I began my career as a Social worker back in 1990. I was one of the youngest MSW grads and could identify more with the kids than the parents. I was lucky to get my first job at a local Inpatient Psych. hospital. There were so many applicants going for only a few positions.
Ever feel that you were in the right place at the right time?
I was completing an application and this small, Irish looking, older woman walked past me and said....fine thank you , and you? I hadn't said a thing to her...but I looked up and smiled at her and she stopped and shook my hand. She asked me what position I was going to apply for. There were only a few choices....Social Worker for the child unit, adol. unit., dual diagnosis, adult unit, adult Christian unit. She shared that she was the director of the Child unit. I told her...well, that was the unit I was thinking I'd be best for. She sat down and we talked for a bit. She took my application and showed me around the place. She took me up to the other "directors" and said they couldn't have me. They asked me about my experience...I winced....I had none! I was fresh out of grad school with a ton of ambition. I was friendly, knew how to socialize, but am not a good BSer. She then took me to meet the Head of the Social Work Department. We spoke for awhile and he told me...well, I'm going to be honest with you. You wouldn't be my first choice. You don't have any experience. The nice little Irish lady was standing right next to me and said to him....I have a feeling about this one. I want her. She is going to be my social worker. He said...well, whatever you want. I spent 2 years there proving myself to this man. He had quite a few passive aggressive things he did to me, like at Christmas time when he bought us all a book, mine was "The Imperfect Therapist". Before I left this hospital to move on to other adventures, he did confess, that I did a great job and he was wrong about me. I am thankful for that experience.
I always thought I was supposed to be a social worker/therapist. Help other people. That is, until we adopted our three boys.