10 Trudeau Truths with Supervising Consulting Behavior Technician Robin Lowe
You know them as the educators, caregivers and leaders who work to keep everything running smoothly so that our clients at the Trudeau Memorial Center can have the best experience possible. But what are they like when they’re off the clock?
Here’s a chance to get a more personal look at the people who make up the team at Trudeau… 10 questions at a time.
For 13 years, Robin has been making a difference at Pathways as a Supervising Consulting Behavior Technician. His journey started in middle school when he bonded with someone at church in a moment that sparked a lifelong commitment to supporting individuals with I/DD and autism.
What inspires Robin most are the smiles from students, and staff, and from knowing he’s part of something bigger. When he’s off the clock, this new dad is hitting Rhode Island beaches with his wife and daughter, exploring the best local restaurants, jamming to everything from Aretha Franklin to Star Wars soundtracks, and dreaming of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef!
Read on to learn more about Robin in this edition of 10 Trudeau Truths!
10 Trudeau Truths with Robin Lowe
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in human services?
At a young age, I always knew I wanted to do something meaningful to support people with I.D. or on the Autism Spectrum. In middle school, I ended up bonding with someone through church who opened my eyes and let me in through their lens. I then figured out that I had a lot to learn about people and myself, so I made a commitment to further give my life to support those who need it.
2. What do you find most rewarding about your job?
At the end of the day, the smiles from the students and staff are the products that resonate with me. However, this is a reflection of the hard work that our team puts forth on an everyday basis. From the beginning, Pathways always made me feel like I was a part of something bigger. Smiles aren’t possible without each member of the Pathways community.
3. Can you describe a memorable moment or success story from your time working at Trudeau?
Over the past 13 years I’ve had so many, however, there’s one that will always stick out. I was a very new employee at the time and I was nervous about, well… everything. In the lunchroom, a veteran employee could sense my internal chaos and took me under her wing and said, “hey, don’t try so hard, slow it down and just do as I do, and you’re going to thrive.” She said it with such confidence that it changed my entire dialectic. Those words stuck with me and to this day, I take that mantra to heart, and have been trying to apply and reciprocate it ever since.
4. What’s something about people with differing abilities (or working with them) that you wish other people knew or better understood?
The level of creativity and passion among those with disabilities is unparalleled. I’ve worked with and learned from so many different individuals over the years and the way that I look at a lot of things is astronomically different from when I first started.
5. What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend?
Days on the beach with my family and evenings eating good food. My wife and I have happily lived together in Rhode Island since 2013, spending days on end at the beach either in Middletown or in South County. At night, we’re always looking to explore somewhere new to dine. I also just had the blessing of becoming a father to my daughter of two months, and my wife and I look forward to sharing our passion for the ocean and good food with our daughter.
6. Favorite book, movie, and/or TV show.
I’m a huge fan of the first six Star Wars movies. When I was young, the originals re-released in theaters and to this day I can still feel that pit in my stomach during the end of Empire.
7. Do you have any pets?
We have a golden retriever named Casey, she’s 8 and she’s great!
8. What’s your favorite food?
MI have roots and family in Texas so I have a preference for Tex/Mex. I love the smells, sounds, and taste of sizzling fajitas.
9. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I have an interest in marine life, so either snorkeling or scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is something I’d love to explore if environmentally possible.
10. What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
Most people know that I am an avid music lover and fan of many genres but the first real big-name concert I attended was an Aretha Franklin show in Boston in 1999.
