'Knowledge' opens career opportunities By MIKE WARREN ThisWeek Correspondent     Most people are ready to retire a: age 62. But thanks to Women Helping Women, Gloria Roberts is ready to start a new career.     Roberts is only one of many successes at WHW, a non-profit women's advocacy group in Spring. In two years, Roberts has been transformed from an unskilled laborer to a secretary with computer-language skills     The Greenfield, Tenn., native said she came to WHW two years ago v. her, her youngest son needed surgery am. she didn't have the money. At that time, Roberts had been working a custodian for nine years, and the work was wearing her cu* physically and mentally.     "When I came to Women Heiping Women, I was pretty low, because, being a custodian was heavy work: she said. "I had high blood pressure and I was just really down."     Roberts enrolled -in a WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3 class with help from a $750 scholarship, provided by Sterling Bank.     "It was hard at first, having to get back into the habit of studying, having to allot time for classes," she said. "Women Helping Women has a goat setting class and that helped me to establish a structured schedule."

Matt White Photo Women Helping Women secretary Gloria Roberts shows life begins at 62.

Roberts graduated from the computer-training program last month and has begun a job search. She does not believe her age will be a hindrance.     "A woman, no matter what her age, whether she's 16 or 75, if she really wants to change her life and get the knowledge of the workplace, she can do it," Roberts said. "I can go anywhere now with what I learned at Women Helping Women and get a job."     For Roberts and most of the other women who come to the organization; more than job training is needed to get them ready for the workplace. Many suffer from extreme lack of self-esteem or are in ill health.     Part of Roberts' employability in a professional environment was limited because she was missing two front teeth and needed glasses. Women Helping Women helped solve both those problems.     "Faye Turner (founder of WHW) worked a miracle and got a partial denture for me," Roberts said. "I smile a great deal more now."     Roberts said she also benefited from WHW's Friday night selfesteem classes, which feature women who have overcome adversity and climbed the ladder of success.     "They helped a great deal, because they had been sitting where I was sitting. And they had gone out and made it," she said.     Roberts, who is widowed, said WHW is important because many women who are dependent on their husbands find they have no other financial resources if they find themselves alone in cases of divorce or death of their spouse.     "These women need a program to help get them back into the workforce," she said. "Women Helping Women encourages them to get their GED and get job training, so they can make a living for their children and themselves."     Roberts, who volunteers as a receptionist at WHW, said the organization is always in need of volunteers and scholarship sponsors.     "When someone or a group sponsors one of the women, they are actually helping themselves by getting these women off welfare and food stamps, and into the job market," she said. "The community is getting a return on their money."