💼 Norma Trevino: Find Purpose in Retirement with SCSEP (AARP Article)

 

Norma Trevino rediscovered joy through community service.

 

When COVID-19 upended the world in 2020, it also reshaped Norma Trevino's life. At 66, she abruptly retired from her career in accounting and administration. While she had her beloved 11-year-old Yorkie and hobbies like embroidery and cooking to keep her occupied, the pandemic's isolation exposed a truth about Norma: Community was the cornerstone of her active, engaged lifestyle. As daily connections and meaningful work disappeared, Norma faced an unexpected challenge – how to maintain her sense of purpose in a world on pause.

 

"Two years after my retirement," she reveals, "I wanted to find a job because inactivity was heavily affecting my mood." Although many retirees return to the workforce out of financial necessity, for Norma it was a desire for the sense of purpose and community that a job can provide.