About to Work My First Midnight Shift...

0_o I don't drink coffee, but even if I did, I somehow doubt that there would be enough coffee in the world to make me feel perky by the end of my shift...I think I feel a bit more tired than I would ordinarily because my balance has been kind of wrecked with working the morning, evening, and now midnight in just three days. That balance is a must to keep those spells at bay, the same spells that led to my death. This is part of my training (I have to shadow all shifts), and while the bosses seemed pretty fired up at the present staff for not wanting to work midnights, I honestly can't, at least not on a regular basis.
I really enjoy working with these kids, and since I started on the 21st, we've already lost two to new placement =[ That's part of the cycle, but a bit sad at the same time. My hope is that they both go on to live better lives than the lives they have left behind.

Mid-Way Through Training...

I have been absent for a number of days, swamped with training every day and other such responsibilities, but I love it! I might be a little less cheerful after the next four days, haha, because I will be shadowing the 8-4 tomorrow, the 4-12 the next, and the mid Wed-8 Thurs. Then a day off (I think) and a barrage of shifts until the 15th!

After my extensive time of unemployment, it is a great feeling to be working again, although I am going to have to think of a new term, because I never think of spending time with children as "work." Contrary to immediate familial belief, I do love working, and it makes me feel so much more energetic and purposeful. I hope that this new position will be everything I imagined and more, since I have envisioned helping at a child shelter for a very long time.

The people I work with are very nice, and the kids'--from what I have been told--are a good bunch, although they are especially watchful of two of them. The bosses are a bit intimidating, but have been kind to me, and I hope it stays that way! By far, I believe Monday will be my busiest day because not only do I work, I also have to get the TB test, a doctor's physical, and then celebrate with my cousin and her boyfriend (it's her birthday). I am looking forward to it, though. What I am not looking forward to is the great deal of post-spring cleaning I have to do today...My room looks a fright, which I must say has been a sadly consistent thing with the crazy semester I just pulled through. I was busy focusing on my course-load and not so much where my things were ending up, I'm afraid. I might as well get started...I highly doubt the cleaning fairy is going to wave her wand on my behalf, although that would be very nice...

I got a job!!!

The economy has not been my friend in the last eleven months that I have been job hunting, but then a former classmate offered to get me an interview where he worked, an at-risk children shelter. My dream job since I plan to go into Social Work, and psychology. I have wanted to help at-risk children, and someday adopt, since I went on mission week as a kid, helping at soup kitchens and children shelters. It was there that my group leader commented on how good I was with the kids, and told me that the social worker had spoken to him about how the girl I had been paired with had not talked to anyone, or even smiled, until I came.

Later, I worked at Boy Scout/Girl Scout camp for several summers, mainly as counselor to children of all ages. The camp also served as an outreach to at-risk and poverty stricken children. We washed their clothes, shod them, fed them, etc. One in my charge had never had a birthday cake and was the sole provider for his family at just nine years old. He mowed lawns for money to feed his family. From that time on I dreamed of working at, or starting, a shelter someday. I have plenty of dreams and aspirations, but this has been paramount.

I got the job, and on Monday will go in for manual reading and shift shadowing, already having completed First Aid and CPR training. I cannot wait, and hope that it will be as fulfilling as I have always dreamed it would be...

Great News!

I am finished with finals, registered for the next semester, and found out that I could graduate this December if I so wish! That's great news, but one science class would be difficult enough, so I think am going to hold off on the remaining science credit and graduate in the Spring.
Now I just need to survive math and science (the three other courses shouldn't be too bad). I'll have my first degree, and be able to start on my next (psychology) from the university of my choice.
I got home to find out that I have a job interview with a children's shelter. That would be perfect for me since I want to go into troubled youth counseling, and even more perfect since I have been job hunting for nearly a year.
Things seem to be looking up =] Well, besides some issues I need to work out with a certain someone.