I learned a lot today.

I think my experiences at my internship today were the most eye-opening, and the most clinical. I think I learned a lot about reading people, and just how much people can fool me. One case, I saw right through the person, and felt her falseness immediately. The other pulled the wool over my eyes, and I'm lucky I didn't say something to make the situation worse. Supervisor and I debriefed after each session. I wasn't surprised to see that I was correct on the one - Supervisor obviously picked up on her before I did, and we went over our assumptions, etc. The other case, I was not as knowledgeable on the complexity of the situation, and I certainly did not pick up on some of the controlling and manipulating behaviors - which they almost got away with on me! I must have somehow subconsciously picked up on Sup's cues because when we debriefed after, she said I changed my wording (for the better) right at the last moment. I told her I have no clue why I did, because I just did not pick up on any of the things she pointed out. However, it all made perfect sense when the evidence was laid out. I'm glad I didn't screw up the session, but I am also glad that I got to see manipulation in action. I think that had I known the background on the clients and their situation, I may have been a bit more keen to what was being said.

It's not like it's the first time I've ever encountered someone like this, but I can be gullible when I'm trying to see the good in a person. I assume that part of me will change real fast when I really get out in the big bad world of social work. However, you take the good with the bad, and the bad with the good.

Great experiences!

Brooke Fraser

I just love this artist. I really, really love her music. I really find her quite amazing, and thus, I'm sharing some of my fav. tunes with you. I was introduced to Brooke Fraser by a former classmate; a young Christian woman who has opened up a church with her husband. Not surprisingly, Brooke Fraser is a Christian artist out of New Zealand. I was raised with Christian ideals, but I refer to myself as a Spiritual Agnostic (and I just figured this out recently!). Not an issue though, I am open to any form of music, and some of Brooke's lyrics have very subtle messages.

My classmate told me that Brooke took a trip to Rwanda 10 years after the genocide. During her trip, she was introduced to a young girl named Albertine, and thus, the song below was born. Being an anti-genocide advocate/activist (although I can't say I put time into it now since my schedule is overfull), and since Rwanda has a special place in my heart, the song brings tears to my eyes every stinkin' time. Honestly, I hope to one day adopt a young child like Albertine.




Other beautiful songs by Brooke.

This particular video is really cool!


















This is probably my fav (aside from Albertine) - the lyrics, the piano and violins, her voice. It's amazing.

Sunday will be a difficult, yet fulfilling day.

Sunday, I am going to accompany my field supervisor to a local hospital to pick up a Safe Haven infant. The baby boy was born late last night, so he will be discharged early Sunday morning. The birth mother has told the nurses that she would like to leave the child under the Safe Haven Law, but in order to do that, she can't be present when we arrive. It's disheartening, to me, that she doesn't want to be involved in finding a good home for her baby (i.e. choosing the adopted parents, or at least being involved at some level) but I completely understand her reasons not to. It probably makes the situation a tad easier when you just walk away from it. I do not judge her for her choices, and I do hope that she finds peace in her decision. I will not be able to go to the hospital and see this tiny infant without thinking of birth mom, and how much she is suffering. However, I am completely excited to finally have the opportunity to retrieve an infant from a hospital and deliver him to his new devoted and extremely thankful family.

It will be a bittersweet day.

Next Field Internship

So, I'm filling out my field application for my next field internship. I am excited about some of my choices:

• A couple of Independent Living program serving adolescents in foster care. This is a MAJOR interest of mine! Program focuses on activities that prepare foster youth and homeless teens for successful independent living when they turn 18. Offered during after-school hours, the curriculum includes core classes, job coaching, substance abuse prevention activities, sports clubs, broadcast journalism training and life skills classes.

• A community-based, gender-responsive prevention, diversion and early intervention program serving girls, ages 12-17. The particular model of this org has been recognized nationally for helping girls find success in school, with their families and in their communities by integrating education, counseling, training and advocacy. Another area of interest!

• Social Work in Schools!

• A charitable organization that is composed of a network of host and sponsor faith communities that help homelessness families with children. The program brings immediate but temporary shelter, meals, and support services to homeless families. The goal is to restore the families to long term self sufficiency. I think one of my classmates is currently interning here

Spring 2010 Semester

My new semester starts tomorrow. I am going to be taking my Practice w/ Groups and Families course, as well as my Field Seminar. I am starting my field practicum back tomorrow at my internship. I look forward to what this semester shall bring, even though it means less book-reading for fun and more for pure learning. :(

I am working one less job this time around, which is highly affecting my lunch money fund. I left my graduate assistantship, which did not pay a lot but did pay my tuition, so I could have more time to breathe. I kept the job I work from home, as I make more money, but work less hours. Still, it is not enough income to support all of our bills, so I still need to take out loans, right along with the bazillion dollars Todd is racking up in school loans. It is a sad state of financial affairs in our home, but we will get by...With lots of Wii games, Netflix movies and leftovers! Oh, and we are hitting the gym TOGETHER tomorrow after our days are over and I hope to make it a common weekly occurrence (maybe Mon, Wed and Sat?). We need it.

P.S. I sent an email to the School of Social Work to tell them I going to attend full-time next school year to get done in 3 years, instead of 4. I will hopefully take my 3 electives this summer (if available) to lighten the load a bit. I am freaking out over the amount of work I will have on my plate. I've never done college full-time, and doing grad school full-time makes me want to either vomit or pass out. However, I'm a dedicated woman who doesn't give up easily. So - wish me luck! (I am doing this so Todd and I can start a family. I need to be done with school first though, and since I turn 31 in a few weeks, I feel we need to get the ball rolling!)

EDIT: Todd and I just made a pact (sealed with a kiss) to hit the gym every Mon and Wed after our day is over, plus do some sort of exercise on Sat - gym, walk, Wii, etc. YAY!