What a difference a day can make...

Each time I get an e-mail response about your experiences and dreams, I get a rush of excitement. There seems to be so many opportunities for social workers: hospitals need us; schools want us; agencies rely upon our expertise; we can open our own private practice if we want! The possibilities are endless.

Today, at the magazine--my day job--two of my co-worker's positions were eliminated. Although I consider both to be my friends, one of my colleagues who was downsized is a close friend. I was driving back to the office after field practice when another co-worker called to tell me the news. It felt like my heart fell into my stomach!

I don't know why, but I thought we were immune to the effects of the economy. We have been on an uphill climb for the past five years and we were considered to be the golden child of our company. Things started to change last year when we were given more publications to produce. With just a few additions to the staff to pick up the added work, we all felt the pressure, but we all have such strong work ethics that we plugged away. Now with an economic downturn, our advertisers are understandably holding on to their dollars instead of spending them with us.

I pray that we can hang in there through these tough times. Our parent company is in the newspaper publishing business, an industry that is struggling greatly. The morale of our company is at an all-time low as entire departments are eliminated in what seems to be a moment's notice.

I am grateful for my job. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to work, and go to school and field practice. I feel humbled by this day's events and I am sending special prayers to my former colleagues. May they find an even better opportunity in the days to come.

--Ms. T. J.