5 Stages of Grad School

by Melanie

It’s hard work capturing all of one’s graduate school experience in one post.

The papers.

The group work.

The interviews.

The reflecting.

The fulfillment.

The crying.

Oh, the crying.

So, in an attempt to be brief, here’s the most exaggerated, ridiculous, and succinct way I could think of to convey my graduate school experience, Kübler-Ross style, with visual aides.

Semester 1: Bargaining

“I’m in grad school! I will do anything and everything it takes to succeed!”

The moment I was accepted to the GCSW, I thought it would take everything I had: all of my time, my attention, my energy, and my money would be set aside for this last chapter of school. Every last sliver of sanity was labeled, “GCSW.”

Obviously, this was a plan with many gaps.

I’ve learned that just because one part of life may be placed as a high priority, it doesn’t mean achieving this one goal should replace other important parts of life in the process.

Semester 2: Denial

“Yes! I absolutely have time for that. Sign me up!”

People talk a lot about time management—and for good reason.

Don’t let over-commitment/activity overload happen to you.

Learn to say no; if the people asking are considering everyone’s best interest, they will understand.

Semester 3: Depression

“The world is a dark, polluted place. And so is my soul.”

Just kidding. Kind of.

Environmentalist Paul Hawken said in his commencement address to the University of Portland in 2009:

“We have tens of thousands of abandoned homes without people and tens of thousands of abandoned people without homes. We have failed bankers advising failed regulators on how to save failed assets. We are the only species on the planet without full employment. Brilliant. We have an economy that tells us that it is cheaper to destroy earth in real time rather than renew, restore, and sustain it. You can print money to bail out a bank but you can’t print life to bail out a planet.”

And don’t get me started on the self-reflection. There’s so much personal work, introspection, self-diagnosis, etc. that goes into surviving the program, it gets blurry figuring out which part is harder: writing the paper, or sitting and thinking about your childhood for half an hour.

Yikes.

Funny thing is: I’ve been paid to do the former, but you couldn’t pay me to do the latter.

Sure, it’s hard to unpack the issues the world faces, let alone all our own problems, but, just like arriving to campus early to find a parking spot, it’s absolutely necessary to look in the mirror before trying to help others. It’s the only way to do good work.

Semester 4: Disillusionment

“The SYSTEM is BROKEN! Corruption everywhere! Who are these people!?”

I once avoided politics like the plague, plugging my ears at every mention of it. I used to let the evening news bore me. I wasn’t ready to consider the theory that if I wasn’t a part of the solution, I was a part of the problem.

Learning about social injustices, locally and globally, is enough to make you want to start a “War On <Insert Hot Button Topic>”  (or perhaps your own colony on a deserted island), but without acknowledging the adversity our society faces, empathy is impossible.

I think the key was learning to channel that anger into action. Spreading awareness about the issues I feel are important is not only good for the causes I support, but it also helps me feel like I contribute to the situation rather than promote it. It’s small, but sometimes, it’s the best we can do with what we’ve been given, especially when our hearts bleed for so many causes. And don’t forget; it’s an election year.

Semester 5: Acceptance

“I can only do what I can do. I am enough.

And, with a little more sleep, I can be even better.”

After everything I’ve learned, I feel like these past two years have made me a better, more responsible, friend, partner, sister, daughter, student, pet-owner, consumer—you get the idea.

I believe that I make better choices, about both the things I choose to do and say every day, and not a moment goes by without considering how I could be more empathetic, more helpful, and more appreciative.

After accepting that the best I can do is all I can do, I’m now kinder to myself and know when to treat myself to some time away from school or work (and even Facebook) and get a little more sleep.

Good, wholesome REM sleep, not just a 10 minute nap.

Self-care, ya’ll.

Here are a few great things I’ve heard along the way:

1. “There is always time to be kind.”

– Meryl Cohen, my field supervisor at Planned Parenthood

This phrase has truly stuck with me as a great motto in all my relationships, professional ones and beyond. Regardless of the class-to-class rush, the people who have greeted me with kindness in the elevators of the GCSW are now some of my most beloved classmates; some ended up being my professors. First impressions count, and it takes less than a second to choose your words kindly.

In December 2011, my father experienced his second heart attack that resulted in a quadruple bypass heart surgery. Being surrounded by a panicked family, it was a serendipitous relief that in the room next door to me was a familiar face from the GCSW. Her warm hug gave me the strength I needed to keep calm. The moral of the story: you never know who might change your life, and it doesn’t hurt to be nice!

2. “Never, never do for others what they can do for themselves.”

– from Bob Fleming’s Empowerment Class and IAF’s Iron Rule

A tough rule to learn, but if volunteering and being a case manager has taught me anything… it’s that social work isn’t even about giving people fish or teaching them to fish (like that old Chinese Proverb); it’s helping empower people to think about their lives in such a way that it moves them to determine for themselves what is best, what role the “fish” will have in their lives.

3. “The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer.”

– Paul Hawken

Enough said.

—

Tremendous love and thanks to:

Rhonda Patrick and Gerald Eckert, for inspiring me to feel like I am capable of accomplishing anything;

Dr. Pritzker and Dr. Cache Steinberg, for giving me the chance to work with you as a GA and discover a whole other side of graduate school; 

Alice and Sandy, for keeping our building fresh and for brightening the hallways with their smiles and laughter;

Amber Mollhagen, Jamie Parker, Tyler Asman, Martina Faulkner, Christopher Brown and Vicky Argueta, for allowing me the fun privilege to represent our college – GO COOGS!;

Too many to name, but to all the wonderful people of Cohort 3 and the many friends I’ve made at the GCSW—thanks for all the memories and for teaching me so much;

And to all the faculty and staff of the GCSW: Thank you for all your hard work, time, and dedication! It will not go to waste!

I am so proud to be graduating with my GCSW best friend, Ashleigh Scinta – I am so proud to know you. You’re an incredible student, but an even more extraordinary friend. Thank you for helping me live up to my potential!

Much gratitude goes to my family for their unconditional love and support these past two years;

And speaking of unconditional love, a big thanks goes to my amazing partner, Kendall, who inspires me to help make the world a more beautiful place every day;

And finally, thanks to our new rescue dog, Pepé, for finally sleeping past 3 a.m., stepping on all my things, enjoying things like wearing t-shirts and sitting during car rides, and for the cuddles of encouragement – you’re our baby-angel-dog!

___________________________________________________________________________________

After graduation, Melanie will be a contract writer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Melanie would like to gain more experience working in the nonprofit sector in program management and/or advocacy, and she aspires to develop a social enterprise dedicated to providing employment and resources for homeless young adults in the near future.

Graduation: Class of 2012

Congratulations to the GCSW Graduating Class of 2012!  Here our graduating Student Ambassadors share their reflections on their experience and post-graduation plans.

UH GCSW PhD and MSW Class of 2012

Ivy Crank, MSW

By the time graduation arrived, I must admit that I was exhausted.  Having spent the week after finals out of town wedding planning and returning immediately to take the licensure exam, my last week was crammed with studying and communicating with coordinators.  To prepare for the licensure exam, I took the free course offered by the GCSW and participated in a review group led by Professor Reibenstein.  Although I passed most of the practice tests I completed, the few failures increased my anxiety about the test.  What if the test generated consisted primarily of macro questions or covered areas I had skipped over entirely?  Surprisingly, I found the actual exam to be easier than some of the practice tests and passed after spending only 3 of the 4 hours allowed.  Usually the last person in a classroom to finish a test, I had also worried that I would run out of time.  All in all, I wished that I had invested less energy worrying about the exam.

Scanning the auditorium at the graduation ceremony, I was struck by how truly fortunate I was… fortunate for a family that could not be more generous with their time or love, for classmates (or colleagues) with diverse views and backgrounds who encouraged me to think about important issues, for staff and faculty that truly cared about students, for a program that trained me to help people to the best of my ability, and for the laughter, self-reflection, and lessons along the way.  I will move to New Orleans in about a month and only just began the job search.  I hope to find a job in a non-profit agency that provides outpatient therapy for adults or adolescents.  I would like to focus on a specific presenting problem to increase my competence in one area.  Regardless of where I find myself for my first job, I am confident that I have a strong foundation from which to build.  Thank you GCSW faculty, staff, graduates, and current students, and best of luck to you!

Jaime Rivera, MSW

Jaime completed the Clinical Practice Concentration and specialized in Social Work Practice with Latinos.  He plans to work in a community clinical setting providing therapy to adolescents and adults. 

 

 

Deysi Crespo, MSW

Two years ago around this time I was excited because I had finally reached my goal in obtaining my Bachelors in Social Work. At the same time, more exciting was the day when I received my letter of acceptance into the MSW program at UH. The excitement increased even more when I received a phone call telling me I was the recipient of a scholarship. As an Advanced Standing student, my mission was to finish grad school in only a year and a half.  Without taking a break between undergrad and graduate school, my first day at the GCSW was all SMILES. I felt like I had found my new home, especially when I found out about different student organizations I could be a part of. I did just that! I became a member and officer of the Hispanic Student Association, which allowed me to strengthen my skills as leader and team player. My concentration was Clinical Practice; nevertheless, for all the ones who know me, it has been acclaimed that I am Macro at heart – that I have a natural ability to lead, to mobilize and initiate change through collaborative efforts. I finally believe all those acclamations, especially after being recruited during my last year in graduate school to become a Director at a Crisis Center, a non-profit organization.  Many colleagues, friends, and family often questioned, “How do you do handle school, family, work and everything else in between?” My answer is quite simple:stay up at nights to do homework and lean on my strong support systems.

As I was approaching my last semester of grad school, during an internship at Davis High School through Communities in Schools, an amazing opportunity came along to participate in the Child Trauma Project. So I extended my graduation plan. Who would do this if there was no need? Well, I guess only me. Yes, call me crazy, but I had a plan for my future and growth in the profession. I proudly became a Trauma Fellow! I am immensely thankful to my field placement, Children’s Advocacy Center of Fort Bend, especially my Field Instructor, Karen Sullivan, who took me under her wings. I was able to apply the new skills developed in grad school such as conceptualization, apply a transtheoretical approach, and multicultural practice; all with a strong emphasis on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy for children and adolescents.

I want to thank all of my professors and the staff behind the scenes. Thank you for your guidance and support throughout these two adventurous years. I will miss everyone! For now, I will continue working as a Crisis Center Director, work towards becoming a licensed clinician and continue promoting social justice. Recently, I was nominated and appointed as one of the newest members of the UH-Clear Lake BSW Advisory Board, which I gladly accepted – all with a SMILE! I am ready to embark on new opportunities!

Chloe Walker, MSW

Chloe completed the dual MSW/JD program and plans to practice family law in Houston after taking the Texas Bar Exam in July.  

 

Melanie Pang, MSW

Excerpted here is a portion of Melanie’s post on her graduate school experience:

“The moment I was accepted to the GCSW, I thought it would take everything I had: all of my time, my attention, my energy, and my money would be set aside for this last chapter of school. Every last sliver of sanity was labeled, ‘GCSW.’

Obviously, this was a plan with many gaps.

I’ve learned that just because one part of life may be placed as a high priority, it doesn’t mean achieving this one goal should replace other important parts of life in the process.”

Her complete post will be posted soon!

Melanie completed the Macro Practice Concentration.  After graduation, Melanie will be a contract writer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Melanie would like to gain more experience working in the nonprofit sector in program management and/or advocacy, and she aspires to develop a social enterprise dedicated to providing employment and resources for homeless young adults in the near future.

Kimberly Willis, MSW

Kim completed the Macro Practice Concentration and specialized in Political Social Work.  She plans to establish and operationalize programs that will empower individuals and communities as well as advocate for the needs of people through policy.    

Second and Third and Millionth Chances

by Melanie

When I was just learning the ropes as a case manager, I had a million questions. Where do you park? How do I use this phone? Is this a meeting space, or the lunchroom, or both? Quickly, my questions became less office related and more client focused: Are they eligible for this program? Which funding source should I use? Typically, how many food packages can the average client carry if they don’t have a car?

Even though the situation was not relevant at the time, I asked my supervisor a question that often comes up in social services, something to the effect of: How many times can a client come to us for services before they can no longer request help from us?

Minus the social work sugar-coating: How many times can someone ask for help and not follow through before they are denied?

I asked this question months ago, and the reply is still marinating in my thoughts.  

His answer was simple but one of the most inspiring responses I’ve ever heard:

“Well, here at <insert organization name> we’re not only a place of second or third chances, right? We’re also of sixth, seventh, eighth– millionth chances, so we discuss the barriers that the client faced and how this next opportunity will be different than the last.”

Simple. Right.

What I gather from that is: 

We’re a place of second and third and millionth chances.

We are human, too, and we perform our jobs based on how well we can carry out our purpose to serve others, not solely those people we deem deserving of help.  

We need to go one step beyond forgiveness and acknowledge that it is not our position to place judgment. If it’s not our place to condemn, it’s also not our place to forgive. It is, however, our position to serve.

Some people might think that it’s an abuse of the system—that it is inconsiderate and ungrateful to continually ask for help without fulfilling one’s “end of the deal.” That may be true. After all, social workers are not saints. We needn’t necessarily serve a client for the hundredth time with a smile and a pat on the back (wouldn’t it be nice to have that kind of patience?). While resources are limited and patience grows thin, I couldn’t possibly say that I’ve been down the same road as many of my clients, and there are a million reasons why a plan with perfectly outlined goals and objectives falls through. One very common misconception about the homeless population is that they just need to “get a job.” To those who believe this would instantly solve the plight of the homeless, I would like to ask them if they’ve seen a job application that isn’t required to be filled out electronically. More importantly, what do the first few boxes on a job application require? An address. What don’t you have when you’re homeless? You probably get where I’m going with this. So when clients come to me and tell me they’ve been looking for a job for over six months, sure, it’s hard to create a plan of action that revolves around income, but we do it anyway. And if it doesn’t work out, we try something new. Try, and try again, because if you don’t even have hope in your clients, how can you expect them to have hope in themselves?

So, here’s my method for trying to avoid being tormented by injustice in the world; I’m still testing it out, but I think it’s working, in my work life and in my personal life:

Try to understand as best you can. Try to focus on the good, on the solution.

Then, try to help.

Try to be a person of second and third and millionth chances.

Vicente Fox’s Lecture: From a Social Work Perspective

by Melanie

At 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, University of Houston students, faculty and staff showed up en masse to hear former president of Mexico Vicente Fox give a lecture, “Leadership and Spirituality,” sponsored by the GCSW, the GCSW Alumni Association and the Gulen Institute. The UH community and news crews filled the auditorium, and the line wound around the Agnes Arnold buildings for those hoping to get in without an RSVP. In his lecture, Fox provided his perspective on the origins of leadership and the individual experiences from which leadership can be derived.

 “Leadership comes from […] a determination and will to do something great in our lives,” Fox said.

 Peppered with the occasional quip en español, Fox’s lecture spoke to the anticipated challenges and solutions between countries regarding future relations among leaders.

“Instead of building walls, we should be building bridges—bridges of understanding, […] bridges of respect to our own people,” said Fox. “If we want to build a future to compete with the East and to make sure that we protect our jobs, our productivity, our quality of life in front of that challenge, we must work together. We must work as partners.” He encouraged us to think as a society, Where do we want to be in 2040?

Halfway into the lecture, he began to discuss other issues, such as education

Mr. Fox responds to questions from the audience

and the rise in the minority population and its future role. He addressed the “elephant in the room”— the drug cartel in Mexico. Fox spoke out in support of legalizing particular drugs, which incited one student to verbalize his approval, receiving applause and a few snickers from the student body. He encouraged a preventative approach to the drug issue using Portugal and the supply and demand model as examples, and he proposed that the issue might inherently be resolved if the demand for drugs were to decrease.

 “How do I inform, prevent, educate my children not to consume drugs?” Fox said, “Work on the demand side of the problem and that would be the solution.”

 The former president opened and concluded the lecture with the topic of spirituality and self-introspection. He encouraged the UH community to think about questions such as, “Am I happy with what I am doing? Am I doing enough? Am I doing things for others so that I can reach that happiness status?” As he asked the students to look upon their appreciation of education, he nudged the audience towards empathy and the common denominator for what makes us successful: opportunity.

 “Maybe [those involved in the drug cartel] wanted an opportunity like the one you have here, to come to this state-of-the-art university,” he said, “maybe they tried to get a job and they couldn’t find it. Somewhere, they lost track in their life. What we’re talking about is opportunity.”

 Students attended the lecture for a variety of reasons: some came out of loyalty and solidarity to Fox and Mexico while others came to the lecture out of curiosity. For some students, they attended out of interest over skepticism of his effectiveness during his time as president.  Regardless of the reasons, his lecture touched upon topics that social workers frequently face: empowering others, increasing awareness, education and affecting policies to work towards the future. A timely affair, Fox said he appreciates the name we give our graduation in the United States: commencement—“a start to something new, preparing yourself, exercising leadership to bring your compassion and your love for others.”

 A brief question and answer session followed with questions regarding religion, immigration, drug issues and advice for our own president. After amiably answering each, he shook the outstretched hand of an enthusiastic student, gave her a hug and jokingly said something to the effect of “Don’t put this on Facebook.” The auditorium bid him farewell with applause, and the impact of his visit and lecture continues to buzz throughout the campus.

Coping with the Lesser of Two Evils

by Melanie

“<Insert program that funds my graduate assistantship> has been slated for elimination as part of the Fiscal Year 2011.” Sitting outside of my favorite restaurant, I’m trying my best to prioritize homework over futile daydreaming about losing my job. I try to think about communities and gaps in services. I try to focus on advocating for various programs at the state and local level.  I even try to think about my next post on Facebook, the next clever link to make my friends laugh, think, care—act. But, all I can think is:  in a few months, in my final year of graduate school, I might not be able to pay my rent.

Almost every year that I convince myself I am getting closer to being financially stable, something happens to bring me back to living from paycheck to paycheck: car troubles, family members in need, health concerns— a personal  “Rainy Day,” if you will. I think it’s bad luck, really.  I’m kind to and respectful of others. I jump at nearly every opportunity that comes my way, sometimes to a fault. I even try to create my own opportunities, my own destiny.  I very rarely feel entitled to anything, I’m extremely grateful for all that I have, and I work hard. Yet, despite all my attempts at success (my short-term version anyway) there are just some things beyond my immediate control.  In this way, I am no more immune to adversity than anyone else. I am no different from the clients I seek to help.

Despite the optimistic pep talks to get our clients “back on the horse” and our attempts to get them to feel empowered enough to pull themselves up “by the bootstraps,” it’s important that I acknowledge and accept the truth:

No matter the reasons for how and why hardship happens to others, and myself, it hurts.

Thank goodness for my experiences in social work. My heart is heavy, but void of resentment or bitterness because I understand. I understand that my program is not an essential part of life. It is not equivalent to providing food for a child, medication for those with illnesses, or shelter for the homeless (although these programs are vulnerable to budget cuts as well).  I understand why my program’s funding had to go, and the best (and worst part) of it all is that I won’t blame anyone or anything. All I have is disappointment, with a side of frustration. But, at least it’s better than rage.

At times like these, we tell our clients to draw strength from our, well, strengths. We get our clients to try to focus on the things they do have: loving friends and family, cute pets, sunny days, or a sense of humor. We get them to try to remember that it’s not the end of the world; life will go on, and you will be OK. The hard part, sometimes, is giving this advice to the most stubborn of audiences – yourself. I know that I have many things that only some could dream of having. I acknowledge how privileged I truly am to be where I am and how incredible it is to be surrounded by so many lovely people. So, I’ll keep being kind, keep searching for the next opportunity, keep doing my homework, because even in the face of adversity—the world doesn’t stop.

I Will Survive

It’s funny when you get to know a person in one context, how easy it is to forget that they have had other hobbies/interests/passions in their life prior to taking classes at the GCSW.  Case in point, last Saturday, December 11th the graduating class of 2011 held a fundraiser to help pay for graduation festivities in May.  Faculty, staff, students, and alumni all participated in an open mic night that showed the talent and creativity of our community outside the classroom.  Dr. Susan Robbins, who traditionally welcomes Foundation students with a blues song she wrote about the semester, performed her blues favorites to a packed house at Bohemeo’s Music, Art, Coffee house on Telephone Rd.  Several other students, PhD and Masters alike, lent their voices and helped to make this fundraiser a complete success.

It was amazing to see so many people that we interact with on a daily basis with eyes of renewed wonder at their charismatic talent.  Attached here is our own Student Ambassador, Melanie Pang, as she performs “I Will Survive.”  An apt song as we continue in our own journey of higher education and as we seek to support those people who need a little help along the way.        

Thanksgiving & Thanks-Receiving

by Melanie

Sometimes described as a “thankless job,” social work entails working with clients/patients for long periods of time with the possibility of never hearing the words “thank you.” Some who seek help have overwhelming feelings of entitlement or cannot comprehend the non-profit industry’s struggle for funding and resources. The general public sometimes regards social services as “handouts” or some kind of sustenance for the lazy. And don’t even get me started on the salary. 

 So, why do it?

  “I’m doing what I think I was put on this earth to do. And I’m really grateful to have something that I’m passionate about and that I think is profoundly important.”– Marian Wright Edelman, founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund; the first African American woman admitted to the Mississippi state bar; award-winning author

 I may only be a student, but Mrs. Edelman took the words right out of my mouth.

 You can’t put a price on feeling relevant, feeling as though your work, your life, is meaningful and serves a greater purpose, something bigger and beyond yourself. On top of my increasing list of things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving (and always), I am grateful for this profession. People describe this work as “rewarding” and “fulfilling” and though it gets tiresome to hear it, it’s true—it not only changes the lives of the helped but also of those who are helping.

 I’ve always believed that the best way to show your gratitude for all that you’ve been given is to lead the best life you know how to live and by sharing the goodness that has been shared with you. Appreciation is shown by the clients’ responsible actions, maybe a low viral load from taking better care of themselves, by being on time to their next appointment, by remembering how to smile even though they had once forgotten how.

And for making the helper feel important and purposeful, the social worker thanks their clients.

 I am thankful for all the people who dedicate their lives to enhancing the lives of others and have paved the way for those of us who wish to do the same. So, to those of you who are relentlessly serving, learning, teaching, and supporting the profession of social work, and regardless of if you hear it enough:

Thank you.

  (Yes, that’s a hand turkey, like the kind you draw in elementary school.)

Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful!

A Month Out in the Field

by Melanie

When I read that I was placed at Legacy Community Health Services in Montrose, I was ecstatic.

HIV/AIDS population – check.

Some LGBT community relevance – check.

No deep religious affiliation – check.

No tiny children running amok – check (Don’t get me wrong. I love kids. Just not at work.)

Considering the many agencies the GCSW has to choose from and the difficulties of finding a good fit for all students, I knew I was lucky to be placed at a site that matched my request exactly. Full of eager over-achievement adrenaline, I called the supervisor as soon as I could. I left a message and sent an e-mail. A few hours later, I became unreasonably anxious and called a different number and reached someone who appeared to have little to no idea what I was talking about. Anxiety became panic.  I learned that my potential supervisor had left Legacy. My GCSW friends, settled in their placements, were sympathetic, and I dreaded the thought of spending a year in the opposite of what I had asked for: like the Association for Toddlers Running Amok for a Higher Power, or something.  (And check out that acronym: A TRAHP (trap).  I didn’t even mean to do that. Zing!)

Miraculously, the field office pulled through for me in the search for someone who was qualified to fit the role of supervisor so that I could stay at Legacy.  After the interview with my new supervisor, I knew I was even luckier than I thought.

–Fast forward to now.

I have been at Legacy for about a month and could not have asked for a better first semester placement. For your reading ease, I will now list the challenging and rewarding aspects of my placement experience thus far, starting with the challenging.

The Challenging:

1. Not enough hours in the day, week, month…  Getting the total number of hours needed this semester (180 hours) is a little tricky, since the clinic is not open on weekends and I have other time-consuming commitments (20 hr/wk graduate assistantship, blocked classes on Wednesday, student orgs., family, friends, keeping sanity 24/7, etc.).
2. Playing musical chairs–without the music.   As is the case with many non-profits, it can get complicated finding a place to sit. The solution in my case was to find the people who have a computer and only work half days.
3. Yeah, right.   I don’t get paid… which was never an expectation, just my own, purely hypothetical, wishful thinking.

 The Good:

1. Collaboration on my Educational Contract (Field Placement Goals) was painless.   My supervisor and I see eye-to-eye on most everything I plan to get out of my time at Legacy. Though she does guide much of what I do, she often tells me to make my own schedule according to what I would like to learn.  Since her actual job is to be Director of Social Services and NOT Melanie’s Job Dictator, it’s understandable that she would be too busy to dictate my every move, and this independence only adds to the realistic nature of field practicum. Things change all the time anyway, so sometimes creating a schedule is futile. 
2. There are endless opportunities to learn.   I have observed a crisis intervention call (a collaborative effort between clinics), the eligibility application process, brief and comprehensive assessments with case managers and their clients, a psychiatric screening, the social services departmental meetings and actually had a blast at their annual all-staff meeting. I’ve attended many trainings and information sessions regarding federal grants, workplace logistics, and “HIV 101.” I’ve met interesting people from many different walks of life and even got to call clients to remind them of their appointments. Every client has been accepting of my presence during his or her session and every staff member has been exceptional at including me and allowing me to feel like I am a part of Legacy.
3. The People.   The staff at Legacy is amazing. I could not ask for a more down-to-earth, fun-loving, and caring group.  It is truly amazing how every person and department has been a resource at my disposal.  My supervisor is an open and warm person whose passion for social work is apparent every day. The others in the social services department never make me feel like a burden. Though we have our office banter about it, no one makes me feel like “the intern.”

It’s also nice that I need not worry about my sexual orientation being taboo, wearing expensive clothes, or having to cover my tattoos—expressing my individuality is more than just respected, it’s encouraged!  Low to no stress, Melanie—you’re paying to be here, so get as much out of it as you can.  Next semester, I will have a caseload of about 10 clients… time to really get some practice in this month so I can be prepared.

Bring it on!