I was recently asked to speak to some high school students about my career in the social work field. I used to work with high school students that were at-risk of not graduating on time, if at all, while working for a not-for-profit agency. The problem is I no longer work in the social work field. I made a complete career change at 41. Now I work in the for-profit business world; more specifically, I work for an electrical contractor in the construction field. To be asked to speak to students at one time would have been an honor, but now I have to ask myself, “Am I happy with my career change and can I be honest with students about the reasons I made this choice?” After all, I made the decision to switch fields after a couple of very hard years professionally, as well as personally. I know that I am not ashamed to admit that sometimes we have to put our own mental health above everyone else’s, so maybe my story is exactly what these students need to hear.
I went to college right out of high school with a strong desire to “help others” be successful in their lives after they have had to endure hardships. Like many in the social work field, I had endured my share of hardships in my own family. I learned that the school counselor was someone I could confide in and she made me feel as if I was not alone. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services and worked in social work right after college. After many different types of jobs in social work I landed in a not-for-profit agency working full-time in this same high school I was recently asked to speak at. To say I loved my job is a severe understatement. I became “mom” at school and kids confided in me, parents looked to me for guidance and I was as close, if not closer to some students than their own mothers. Though working for a not-for-profit was not financially rewarding and did not offer health insurance. For the sake of my family I was forced to make a tough choice to change jobs for better benefits.
The fall before I made the choice to change jobs, I lost a man who was my best friend. We had dated and separated, but were closer than ever and he had finally told me he loved me. A reconciliation was inevitable. Then just weeks later he died in a tragic accident. While going through grief counseling, my unprofessional and incompetent therapist talked me into starting a master’s degree program. Probably not the best decision to be making in the midst of tragedy, but a decision I made. Around the same time I started working in the mental health field as a case manager. This was the job that brought me to my knees. I was working with one of the toughest populations and drug abuse, especially heroin, was on the rise. I was soon dealing with heroin deaths and their families. It seemed I couldn’t escape death. I was also in the middle of a court case with my ex-husband that left me a full-time single, mother. And… did I mention, my next male companion, at this time, was diagnosed with cancer and I did what I can only assume every woman does who has already lost a significant other: I ran. There was much more to this decision, but the point is I chose to walk away from him in his time of need to protect myself. Then, five short months later, as we were laying my 57-year-old uncle to rest, I found out he too would pass. And he did. Now I was facing the extreme emotions of losing someone I cared for but chose to leave to avoid losing someone again. Life seemed out of control.
Two personal loses, a family loss, a mentally challenging full-time job, and a full-time master’s program all within a time frame of less than 2 years… I still am not sure how I made it through. I would work all day at my mental health job and work all night on my master’s program. I was in charge of so many other people’s mental health that I was neglecting my own. This is around the same time I posted on Facebook that I wanted to make a complete career change. I had to save my sanity. Luckily I had a friend who knew of a job opening in an expanding electrical contracting office. One does not simply go from a years long social work/not-for-profit career into the business world. Yet this is exactly what I did. After meeting with the branch manager and simply being straight with him, he decided he liked my honest and blunt ways and hired me. Almost a year later and I love the job, lower stress level and not having to put everyone else’s mental and emotional needs before my own. I quit the master’s program with no plans of returning at this point. I put myself first with little loss in pay, more benefits, a wonderful schedule and a job that is still challenging enough to make me truly happy with my decision.
I know I have made the best decision for me... and my daughters, and I have been open with many people about the journey that has brought me here. So, can I go into the high school I love and tell students that I WAS a social worker? Sure I can. I still know the field well enough to provide them with valuable information. Can I be honest about not working in the field anymore and why I decided to change career paths? Yes! I believe we often neglect to put enough significance on not only doing what makes us happy but putting your own needs first. I definitely think we need to tell students and young people that it is ok to change your career and life to make yourself and ultimately everyone you love happier. I will go talk to the students who are interested in social work because at one time I wanted to be just like the school counselor who helped me make the decision to become a social worker. I will not sway them one way or another in their decision, but I will be honest about the awesome field of social work and the idea that it is ok to sometimes be your own social worker in order to help yourself be more successful, whether financially or mentally and emotionally.
No comments:
Post a Comment