About my Social Work Degree

In high school I knew I was going to be a Social Worker.  I got my associates degree with the intention of finishing my BSW.  Rick and I got married and it was put on hold.

I graduated in May 2014, unknowingly pregnant.  I all but begged my internship (at a skilled nursing facility) to keep me on part time.  I felt as if I worked well with staff, I loved the residents, I knew they were expanding, and I was willing to work 8 hours a week if that's all they could offer me.

I wasn't offered even a part time position.  I was perhaps too popular for some of my co-workers, mainly one co-worker, my Supervisor.  I felt crushed because I had grown to love that flawed organization and everyone in it.

By the end of September my fate had been sealed, sealed with a recliner and for the next 3.5 months that's where I could be found.  I couldn't do much because of my blood pressure and I didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize Lainey.  Having a C-Section required a longer recovery period and I admit I was tired of recovering.

Constantly searching for what it was I was supposed to do became discouraging.  Then out of no where I got a call from my real estate friend, "I need to hire you to keep my books".  Within hours was a call from a friends Sister-in-law,  "Would you like to come talk about a job, keeping books?" Two job offers.

I was reminded of the man from my church, standing in my foyer some 9 months earlier with tears in his eyes, telling me that he was prompted to tell me, "Heavenly Father, loves you and he is aware of your needs".

Here it was, I needed a job.

I started part time at both jobs, ultimately the job at a machine shop consumed more of my time and after two weeks I knew it would be a good job.  Each day my boss thanked me before I left.  I had a bit of a money mess to clean up with the books and I worked very hard at it.

2 weeks in, my Social Work Internship Supervisor sent me a text.  She asked how I was doing, asked if I was working.  I didn't want to tell her, I felt her text was superficial.  She hadn't contacted me throughout my pregnancy, when Lainey died no one from my internship sent a card or flowers.  Instead of telling her about my job, I asked her where I should send my resume?  She told me she'd let me know, then I didn't hear from her again.  In my mind, proving she was just fishing.

Weeks 3 and 4 I spent even more hours at work.  My boss kept me busy and I recall saying to him, "You do know that I had been laying around for months and  I just had a baby in November, right?"  He smiled and nodded.   He was putting me to work.

At the end of my 4th week at work, around 10 in the morning my boss's wife came into my office with a $400.00 check, a bonus, thanking me for all my hard work.  I was shocked!  So appreciative!

2 hours later, my Internship Supervisor called she wanted me to come in for an interview, they need to hire an additional Social Worker!  I was completely shocked and conflicted.   As a Social Work Intern, I had to be somewhat submissive to my Supervisor and I didn't always stand up for what I felt was needed or right.  I was certain she would be surprised by the real me, and it would be difficult for both of us.

Yet, it was "THE" job.  The one I had prayed for and cried over.  The one I had missed, with the people I genuinely cared about.  I was floored.  Saturday and I had a long telephone conversation with my former Supervisor.  We discussed what I had been through, we discussed what the job would look like, we discussed everything.  The next step was to talk to the Administrator.

On Monday we had a phone conversation and he told me, "The job is yours, we are not even advertising it".  We agreed that I would come in and speak with him.  Then a few days later my supervisor called with the impression that not only did I accept the job, but I'd be in for training in two days.

They were not listening, they were hearing what they wanted.  

I had a frank conversation with her and I simply stated, "Had I remained on the staff even if only for a few hours a week, this decision would be easier".  "I've been through so much, and my heart has been broken, I'm not sure I can do this job at this time in my life".

I called to speak with the administrator personally about the job and circumstances, I left two messages, he never even took the time to return my phone call.  She had told him I wasn't ready or able to take the job.  Like that, it was over.

They had offered me $2.00 less more an hour than what I was making, no unexpected bonus would come my way and my hours would have zero flexibility, working 5 days a week at a job 40 minutes from home.

Meanwhile, each week I was becoming more familiar with my work responsibilities.  It had been a while since I worked with this financial software, it was challenging, I was not sitting in the recliner.

Around March when the postpartum set in, my job was my saving grace.  It was the only place I wanted to be, I looked forward to going to work, I hated coming home.  There was so much activity at home, all the kids talking, the dog...I couldn't process it.  At work, I had that disconnect from the feelings and pain.  It helped that my co-workers, boss and his wife were all so good to each other and me.  I've been there nearly 8 months and before I leave my boss still thanks me for my work.

I work with 7 men, 5 days a week and I have absolutely no drama.  I am not dealing with disgruntled people or families, back biting of co-workers, nothing.  I have learned some interesting things about a group of men that sit down for lunch together, men at lunch, far different than women!

8 months later, I still enjoy going to work.  I enjoy the mental break.

Yes, I have a social work degree and a student loan to prove it.

For now, I'm happy and safe at my job, so that's where I plan to stay.