2 posts tagged “social work”

I wish I were one of those people with very few interests and knew exactly what they wanted to pursue in life.

I am not one of those people.

It's not like I don't want to do anything with my life.  It's that I want to do TOO MUCH.  I want to help people and make a difference, but I also love to be creative.  Problem is, I also want to be comfortable financially and not worry about how to make ends meet.  So I'm trying to figure out a way to do it all, but it's driving me nuts!

I'm trying to work out a tentative plan, which is very if.... then... Because I have to make something happen, but I have to wait a while to see if it will take effect and allow me to get where I wanna be.

For instance:

-IF I want to get into social work and take on issues such as family violence, THEN I need to get educated
-IF I want to get educated on social work, THEN I need to make sure I want to go back to school
-IF I want to go back to school, THEN I need to make sure I like what I'm going back for, and volunteer somewhere (i.e. SafePlace Austin)

-and-

-IF I want to start a photography portait business, THEN I need some experience and a portfolio
-IF I want more experience in photography, THEN I need a new digital camera THEN I need some education, THEN maybe get a new mentor

See what I mean?

I know it's all a matter of just doing it, but things like time and money get factored in and it really makes things difficult.  I dunno, what do you think?  Should I pursue these all at the same time?  Should I take on one at a time?  Should I abandon it all?  Ugh, I just don't know.

The last 2 days I went to volunteer at a local women's shelter called SafePlace.  I've been to events, and been involved with them before, but I've never volunteered with them directly.  So I decided to help out a couple of days on my lunch hour. 

I was pretty impressed with their setup. They have a huge warehouse, a center for operations, and then next to it all, they have what looks like an apartment complex, so all of the advocates have a place to live while they're hiding out.  A "safe place" to call their own.  Plus, it's surrounded by a huge black fence and have multiple security gates.  It's awesome.  If I ever had to hide, I would feel safe there.  They're hard to find, which is good, and they don't post their addess on their website.  Also good, in case psycho husbands or babydaddies try to hunt the advocates down. 

All I did was help out in the warehouse, help sort items that had been donated.  Let me tell you, people really get it together during the holiday season, because that warehouse was full!  Full of toys, full of toilety supplies, full of everything.  Also, I've never seen more Candyland games all in one place! 

Now, the reason I volunteered is because I believe I'm suffering a quarter life crisis.  I'm still wondering about things like "what's my purpose?  i feel like i should be making a difference... i need to do good things while I'm here on earth.. yadda yadda yadda..."  Now, I'm no stranger to volunteering my time.  For 4 years I taught kickboxing and other martial arts and wasn't paid.  So basically between 3-10 hours a week for 4 years I volunteered.  I know it's not really the traditional type of volunteering people think of, but still.  I was helping people better themselves, learn to defend themselves, and better their lives in general. 

Now, there's one thing that I get my panties in a wad about.  I'm not a very politically motivated person in general.  I've never felt strongly about a cause, enough to put my time towards it.  Except for this:  I DO NOT STAND FOR ANY KIND OF ABUSE TOWARD WOMEN.

Maybe this stems from my martial arts background, and gaining the confidence to know better, but there is never a reason to hit a woman.  There is no reason to emotionally abuse her either.  I don't care if you were drunk, I don't care if you have anger issues.  There is never a reason for a woman to be scared inside her own home, or scared of someone who is supposed to love her.  The only fight I've ever tried to break up was because a guy was kicking a woman in the face while she was on the ground.  It was the most messed up thing I'd ever seen in my life.  I myself have never been in an abusive relationship, and I've only been in one physical fight with an S.O.  But I believe every woman should feel safe.  Period.

Now, seeing how passionately I feel about this issue, I feel like I should be putting some effort into it.  So, I volunteered a couple of hours at this place, and I think I'm going to make it a regular thing this spring.  Eight hours a month is nothing.  Then who knows... maybe it'll show me what I need to be doing with myself.  

I love writing, and I love graphic design, and I love being creative.  But I'm not doing so good making it my living.  And I'm honestly not motivated enough to run my own business.  So, even though I change my mind about what I want to do with my life every month, right now I'm saying I'm thinking about going back to school for Social Work.  I know it's not a very lucrative profession, but considering the type of personality that I have, I don't think I was ever cut out for the cut throat world of advertising. 

I'm fine in my placeholder job right now, and I have a 4 year degree.  I don't know how I'd pay for school, but it's not anywhere close in my future, so I'll take some time and maybe save some money, get settled.  I have to take care of getting my S.O. here with me, get him back in school, and get him out of school, before I can really think of going back myself.  PLUS, I'm 25K in debt because of college.  Lots of logistical thinking to do.  So, it's not a bad thing I can't do anything yet.  But I think volunteering is a good start.