Another step in the right direction
|
If someone would have shown me a snippet of my life 13 years ago I doubt that I would have believed that it was actually my life. I have always wanted to be in the helping profession. I knew early on when I wanted to be an attorney that it was because I wanted to help and represent people and fight for social justice. Later I decided that attorneys were just too shifty for me and if faced with representing someone who was corrupt, I knew it would be extremely difficult. But helping was still in my blood. It has always been in my blood. It will always be in my blood. I come from a long line of decedents who were in the helping profession. Mostly teachers, but I recently found out that one of my great great, great relatives was one of the first Social Workers back in Tucson, Arizona. Of course they were not called social workers back then. But I knew when I read her obituary that she was a great woman who helped those who were less fortunate. She opened up her home to the sick and elderly. She cared for them. She nurtured them. She advocated for them She never did it for the money. She did it because it made her happy. At one time I wanted to be a child psychologist. But after reading extensively on the profession, I concluded it was not the right fit for me. I wanted to do more to help than to sit behind a desk and analyze people�s minds. I wanted to help them get on track. I wanted to be there as they shifted and turned their life around. I wanted to do more than just listen. I wanted to lead. I was lost. I knew psychology was not the major that I wanted to continue in. One day near the end of my first semester in college, I stumbled into a building that housed the Social Work department. Proudly displayed on a wall was a poster listing all the jobs that social workers do. I studied that poster for about 20 minutes. A young lady happened to see me looking intensely at all the job possibilities and she begins talking to me about the field of Social Work. She was so enthusiastic about her major and she loved it. She introduced me to another women who happen to be a teacher in the department. After meeting with her for 20 minutes, I was convinced. The next day, I petitioned to change my major. Every now and then, I think about the change that I made. I knew that the field of social work did not pay well. I had to come to grips with the fact that I may never be able to afford tailored suits and flashy diamonds. I may not be able to drive my dream car or afford a vacation house on the beach. But I am ok with that. The rewards that I get from the people around me are so much more precious. I help people in need. I am an advocate and I am a change agent. I am thankful everyday I wake up that I have a job that supports me. I know I bitch and complain about the pennies that I make. I know with the skills and the experience I have, I can make much more money. When I turned down the job a few months ago even I thought I had temporarily lost my mind. My initial reaction was to jump all over the position. Hey, it was a $7000 dollar a year raise and the opportunity to be in a supervisory position. But my gut, or perhaps it was my God held me back and told me to stay put where I was. I knew I was losing out on some much-needed money. Although I can support myself at the end of the month there is not much left to play with and even less to save. My goal of home ownership would take years at the rate I was going. But slow and steady wins the race. I am thankful I did not take the last position. I know it was God talking to me and sending me the reassurance I needed that he had bigger and better plans for me. I waited. Not always patiently but I waited. I believed in Him. And now, I am proud to share that what I have been waiting for has finally come. I interviewed for another position within the medical center I currently work for. I have been nervously waiting for some sort of call back. Yesterday evening, I got the confirmation that I have been so anxiously waiting for over the last three weeks. I GOT THE JOB! I can�t even convey in words how excited I am about the position. I have heard some negative things about the position I interviewed for but I am willing to take a risk in order to learn something new to add to my skills. And of course, the most important thing is the monetary advancement�a $22,000 dollar a year pay raise. (Yes, I did say twenty-two thousand dollars a year). Finally, I feel as though I will be paid what I am worth and I will be one step closer to reaching my homeownership goal. So once again, I am moving forward in my career and personal goals and it truly is a great feeling. (Buppie and Mia�.I am ready to go on that cruise!) |
2:52 p.m. || June 28, 2006 |
Navigate
|
current |
THE GIRL
|
.... |
LAST 5
|
Moving day - October 08, 2007 |