TODAY I FOUND MY VOICE.
As I get ready to retire for the night, I am feeling a bit vulnerable and a lot empowered. For the past couple of months, I have felt pressured and bullied by a system that ought to be encouraging and supporting me.
I had internalized the feelings of anger and disappointment because I didn't feel like it was a battle worth fighting at this stage of the game. What was happening was that I was getting really depressed. I was feeling hopeless.
What I believe today is that if I cannot advocate for myself, I will not be able to do the same for others. I cannot let fear get in the way when situations are unfair and unreasonable.
While it may require courage to stand up for what I believe, the price I will pay for not speaking my truth is much too high.
~Ms. T. J.
Absolutely! No one wins from working with a martyred social worker.
ReplyDeleteAll correct! but do I know the feelings! One of the things that keeps me going and speaking up, or helping my clients to speak up for themselves is, that in our work, eventually we do see signs of our work in our clients, as laws change, and other sometimes "magical feeling" changes that do occur, but not without our voices.
ReplyDeleteKeep strong and keep talking!
I feel compelled to write that my issue was not with my field placement but rather another institution with which I am affiliated. To mention the system is not as important as the message.
ReplyDelete~Ms. T. J.
If you don't speak up for yourself, no one will. I truly believe that. Congrats T.J. on your breakthrough!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl. You CAN speak up for yourself. You are articulate, educated and intelligent. Think of all the people coming after you and advocate for them, if not for yourself. Worse case scenario, wait until the summer, when you are finished your school work so that you can focus on this new challenge! Remember, we believe in you. :-D
ReplyDeleteWow. Thank you so much for your support! It truly means a lot to me.
ReplyDelete~Ms. T. J.