Working for Free

Is it possible to already enjoy the work and environment this early into an internship?

I started my internship on September 4 and have completed 74 hours of free work... but I feel much more satisfied each and every day I'm there that working for free isn't even an issue. It's soulful confirmation that social work is the field I'm intended to be in.

I'll admit, I was incredibly skeptical to work with this particular population, simply because I was unfamiliar. I'm interning with the elderly population, but the last time I spent quality time with an elderly person was nearly 18 years ago (which is when my last remaining grandparent passed). I mean, I see elderly at my church... and in high school I used to clean the houses of two elderly neighbors... but do those things really count?

In my 74 hours, I've spoken to men and women of various backgrounds over the phone, and have gone into various homes. I've made people's day (allegedly) and I've probably irritated others (here's to looking at you, person who hung up on "me" and requested "I" didn't call again).

It's important to check my ego. One thing I'm learning is to not take things like being hung up on so seriously. In our social circles, it's rude and can hurt... but in this realm, I have to remind myself that 1) I'm a stranger to them, 2) It's not me they're hanging up on, it's the idea of services and programs they're hanging up on, and 3) For every person who hangs up, I've spoken to three or four delightful people, so the good outweighs the bad.

I'm looking forward to what the next... however many hours... provides in regard to training, learning, and becoming a better social worker.

And if you have a moment, I would love the opportunity to discuss our emotional support and socialization services with you. ;-)