Segun at the cash register.
Most guests at Club Nova are welcomed by the same voice. "Hey! Welcome to Club Nova!" It's a voice that lifts over the hustle and bustle of customers, the ring of a cash register and the clank of merchandise. Enthusiastic, energetic and uplifting, the voice belongs to Segun.
Segun's joyful voice is especially remarkable in the context of his life before Club Nova. "I think I was born with mental illness" Segun remarks, "but when I started going to high school…it started to get worser." After a serious of nervous breakdowns and an extended hospitalization, Segun was diagnosed with bi-polar manic depression and "traits of schizophrenia." At his worst, Segun was hearing voices and hallucinating. [Hear Segun discuss his delusional period.] Club Nova, coupled with treatment from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hospital, has changed Segun's life. He's a daily visitor at Club Nova and has been employed by the nearby Harris Teeter for over four years.
Segun speaks Club Nova's praises as if they are old friends. Like any friendship, Segun and Club Nova give each other gifts. Club Nova benefits from Segun's sunny disposition; Segun benefits from Club Nova's spiritual and financial help. "Club Nova gives me the opportunity to save money because sometimes I eat breakfast here, which is maybe a jelly butter biscuit, which is about 40 cents, and I also eat lunch here periodically, which is a dollar per lunch. Eating lunch and breakfast here…really helps me save money." Like most mental health patients, money is an issue for Segun. Medication and treatment are expensive. The Thrift Store also helps monetarily through the easily accessible inexpensive clothing and household items. Most importantly; however, Club Nova helped Segun land a job at Harris Teeter bagging groceries. The Club not only helped in finding the job, but also provides essential transportation. Each morning a bus picks Segun up from him house in neighboring Mebane and brings Segun into Carrboro. Segun is quite proud of his job. To show this pride, he wears his Harris Teeter apron most of time. He's eager to talk about his bagging responsibilities and often encourages people to apply to Harris Teeter - there's a recent bagger shortage. [Hear Segun discuss bagging.]
However, the main benefits of Club Nova for Segun are clearly not monetary. An extroverted man, Club Nova is an excellent social network for Segun. He's rarely without a fellow member, joking or making plans. "Everybody gets along. When new members come in they just slip in the door and they just fit right in with everybody…[there's] a lot of magic in the area." Working in the Thrift Store has been an excellent addition to Segun's life. "I really enjoy working here at the Thrift Shop more than working at the Club House. The Thrift Shop has given me a brand new opportunity to do volunteer work out in the community for students and also for the public" he says. With a newfound purpose and excellent friendships, Club Nova has really greatly aided Segun. [Hear Segun praise Club Nova.] Employed, joyful and independent, Segun is one of Club Nova's greatest success stories. He's made a remarkable recovery from hearing voices to being one of the Club's more joyful and distinctive voices. Hopefully his voice will be greeting customers, volunteers and members for years to come.
Segun's joyful voice is especially remarkable in the context of his life before Club Nova. "I think I was born with mental illness" Segun remarks, "but when I started going to high school…it started to get worser." After a serious of nervous breakdowns and an extended hospitalization, Segun was diagnosed with bi-polar manic depression and "traits of schizophrenia." At his worst, Segun was hearing voices and hallucinating. [Hear Segun discuss his delusional period.] Club Nova, coupled with treatment from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hospital, has changed Segun's life. He's a daily visitor at Club Nova and has been employed by the nearby Harris Teeter for over four years.
Segun speaks Club Nova's praises as if they are old friends. Like any friendship, Segun and Club Nova give each other gifts. Club Nova benefits from Segun's sunny disposition; Segun benefits from Club Nova's spiritual and financial help. "Club Nova gives me the opportunity to save money because sometimes I eat breakfast here, which is maybe a jelly butter biscuit, which is about 40 cents, and I also eat lunch here periodically, which is a dollar per lunch. Eating lunch and breakfast here…really helps me save money." Like most mental health patients, money is an issue for Segun. Medication and treatment are expensive. The Thrift Store also helps monetarily through the easily accessible inexpensive clothing and household items. Most importantly; however, Club Nova helped Segun land a job at Harris Teeter bagging groceries. The Club not only helped in finding the job, but also provides essential transportation. Each morning a bus picks Segun up from him house in neighboring Mebane and brings Segun into Carrboro. Segun is quite proud of his job. To show this pride, he wears his Harris Teeter apron most of time. He's eager to talk about his bagging responsibilities and often encourages people to apply to Harris Teeter - there's a recent bagger shortage. [Hear Segun discuss bagging.]
However, the main benefits of Club Nova for Segun are clearly not monetary. An extroverted man, Club Nova is an excellent social network for Segun. He's rarely without a fellow member, joking or making plans. "Everybody gets along. When new members come in they just slip in the door and they just fit right in with everybody…[there's] a lot of magic in the area." Working in the Thrift Store has been an excellent addition to Segun's life. "I really enjoy working here at the Thrift Shop more than working at the Club House. The Thrift Shop has given me a brand new opportunity to do volunteer work out in the community for students and also for the public" he says. With a newfound purpose and excellent friendships, Club Nova has really greatly aided Segun. [Hear Segun praise Club Nova.] Employed, joyful and independent, Segun is one of Club Nova's greatest success stories. He's made a remarkable recovery from hearing voices to being one of the Club's more joyful and distinctive voices. Hopefully his voice will be greeting customers, volunteers and members for years to come.