The following three letters are self-written notes by Zaire Sims to Zaire Sims, with advice to her younger self, present self, and future self.

Letter to younger self

Dear Penny,

I always liked this childhood nickname for us -- Penny. Some basketball player had this name. I can’t even tell you his last name, but because I was always taller, I stood out. It’s so funny that Dad gave us this nickname.

As an older you, giving advice to a younger you, this is what I’d like you to know: I admire your resilience through a number of adversities. The nights you and your sisters spent with no house to call home, no food on the table, and no electricity  or water.  Yet somehow, you managed to transcend and become a young scholar.

You were fortunate enough to have people who understood your circumstance, who let you sleep on their couch. How do you repay them? 

You always volunteered, you gave what you had, even if you had very little in terms of material things, but you gave your time. Remember when we were the key speaker at Shantytown and people learned of our story of being homeless? Remember when we raised awareness for childhood hunger, building the table and preparing materials to deliver to people in disaster zones? You’ve always participated in activities and given back to people, regardless of what little you had. 

Then came the Young Scholars Program in your life, the income-based scholarship for first generation college students, which was life-changing for us. YSP was our safe space, it was your extended family away from family.  YSP put us on a trajectory we could not imagine. I am forever indebted to YSP. 

Through that experience of going through school, helping people, you were able to learn how the most important thing you can give to people is your time. There are people who helped you along the way and there are no words to say who truly grateful you are for their helping hands. 

I want you to know that because of your resilience and deserve to have a better life, we are who we are today. Like Aunt Sukie, used to say “It will only get better from here.”

Love yours, 

Z

Letter to present self

Dear Z,

You’ve come a long way, but you’ve got more to do. There are opportunities in front of you. Don’t hold yourself back by feeling like you have imposter syndrome. You worked hard to be in the place that Penny always wanted. I hope you realize you have the qualities and skills to be a social worker, to change the world. You are a strong advocate for older adults. Your creative thinking to find the solutions to their needs, is impressive. You value each individual relationship you build with them.

As a member of the inaugural class of the Rise Program by the American Society on Aging , you, among your 30 peers, are becoming trained as trailblazers in the field of aging.The mindset we are developing now will allow us to identify equity changes and how to make transformative changes in serving BIPOC older adults by implementing DEI practices and finding “co-conspirators” and “accomplices”. From the thought provoking presentations and the safe space to vent with like-minded people where we are not the minority. We are the next generation of BIPOC leaders to come. I want to thank Patrice and Cynthia for the amazing opportunities ASA RISE has given me and us.

Take advantage of the opportunities in front of yourself. While it may feel like you are  dealing with imposter syndrome.This is the time where you are supposed to question everything. This time allows you to look inward and reflect on the goals you want to accomplish. It’s the perfect time to come become the “flower that blooms in adversity”. You are quiet and observant , taking everything in, waiting for the right to seize. Stay comfortable with being uncomfortable, Who knows what the future holds..

Love yours, 

Z

Letter to future self

Dear Dr. Sims, 

I hope I’m addressing you correctly. It has a nice ring to it. 

You have found happiness in everything you have done, whether it is personal or professional. You have always been so hard on yourself. I hope you see the value you have added to the field of social work and the field of aging. You found your voice. Our voice. Our voice to be a better advocate for ourselves and the population we serve. You have been able to use your life experiences and education to inspire others to not give up and influence them to get into the field of aging through mentorship. You have taken the accountability to involve others in coalition-building and action to meet the needs of an aging population. The field of aging is employed with more diverse professionals because of your contributions.

If I could summarize who you have become in 8 words, they would be: 

1. Loving
2. Empathetic
3. Analytical
4. Trailblazing
5. Well-spoken
6. Com/passionate
7. Strategic
8. Organized

Love yours, 

Z

Zaire Sims is a Fellow of the American Society on Aging RISE Program.