Margaret had the pleasure of volunteering with her Buddy for three years during her time at Purdue University. She says while at Purdue, she grew to have a better understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease, those affected by it, and the ways that she could make a change, learning that simply being there for others can make more of a difference than one realizes.
One of the most memorable moments Margaret has with her Buddy occurred when she came off of the elevator and began to make her way over to her Buddy. Before she could cross the room, her Buddy looked up at her and said “there’s my friend.” Margaret says that through their three years together, her Buddy never remembered her name, but always recognized her by her warmth and the way that she treated her - exclaiming that it meant the world to her that she was making a positive difference in her Buddy’s life. Along with her Buddy’s reciprocated warmth, Margaret learned that her Buddy also loves chickens!
Through Alzheimer’s Buddies, Margaret’s experience with her Buddy left a lasting impact on her. She says that their friendship changed the way she looked at life, as her Buddy loved her family and enjoyed learning about Margaret’s as well. Seeing her Buddy’s family be so valued made her be even more grateful for the family she had.
- Margaret Gholdson
Margaret is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling at Marian University. As to why she joined Alzheimer’s Buddies, Margaret says she not only wanted to become engaged with a volunteer-based club on campus, but she also had a personal connection, as her family has been impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease.
During her time at Purdue, Margaret was the Vice President of Alpha psi omega, president of her school’s NAB chapter, and assisted with her university’s production team within the theater department. In her spare time, she enjoys taking walks and watching movies. After completing her degree, she hopes to work in mental health therapy.