New Job!!!!

I had my first day at the new job today. I am SO excited to really get started! It is going to be really difficult at times, and very much an emotional roller coaster and one hell of an experience, but I really think that I'm going to be happy working there!

The group of clients I trained with tonight ranged fro 14 to 17, with a mean age of 16. They had a whole slew of issues ranging from heroin abuse, being raised in a satanic cult and EXTREMELY abused, to god knows what else... but when you strip away all of that, they are all really great kids with a lot of potential that just needs unharnessing and nurturing.

There was one point in the evening I was observing one of the counselors talking to a client who was having a really hard day - and it was just so touching watching her encourage, nurture and empower the client, I had to fight back tears. It's going to be such a different (and amazing) experience working with these girls to help them succeed... as opposed to the 20 minutes I get with them during crisis now (as a paramedic).

There is still (understandably) a lot of fear associated with my new position. However, it's not due to the intensity of the position (as most of my new superiors have alluded to being a cause of fear when first beginning). I've done intense. I think the thing I'm scared most of is the process of developing my new position, and how it's going to best support the clients and support myself... I've never had a position in which I was able to take care of myself... This is going to be one hell of a journey!