A New Chapter
It's been 4 weeks since classes have started and yes, I am back in school. This semester I am starting grad school--my master's in social work. What's pretty cool, too, is that I have also applied to volunteer at this place called Switchboard of Miami. Over the summer, I've been trying to apply for social work jobs, even some in retail (just to get a job). Unfortunately, no one was hiring or I was considered to be "over-qualified" since I have just received my bachelors...I don't know. In any case, God allowed me the opportunity to volunteer in a social work related agency. I would consider Switchboard to be the perfect place for me because not only would I become familiar with the resources & services in the community, but they would also train me in crisis intervention and counseling.
I did a lot of my training for volunteering over the summer so I was able to start once classes started. Once we finish the basic training, the team leader sets us up with a staff person to receive "on-the-phone" training. First, we spend the initial session listening in on the calls. The next session we answer calls while the staff person fills in the information on the system. By the third session, we are supposed to do everything on our own while the staff person listens in to make sure we are doing what we are supposed to do. I'll be honest, I don't like someone having to look in or listen in on what I'm doing. It makes me feel real nervous and so self-conscious--thoughts keep racing through my head about what I should and shouldn't do. It's so distracting. I was worried that I'd have to do extra sessions just to get the system right. Thank God though, by my third session, my staff person said that I was ready, with minor things I needed to work on. I was surprised! So, three weeks ago, I started on my own. Let me tell you...I was so freaked out that day. I was incredibly nervous, again, only this time it was worse. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going have a heart attack! I don't think that the nervousness has anything to do with talking on the phone with people. Rather, it was about being adequate enough to provide the right resources and referrals. While on the call with the individuals, I keep thinking to myself that I am inadequate to provide the right resources and how I wanted to transfer them to someone else who could do a better job than me. BUT...after a couple of calls, I started taking in deep breaths and took a moment to say a pryer to God. I poured my heart out to Him about everything I was feeling. I believe God heard me because the moment I started praying, I hadn't received any calls for a good 20 minutes--just enough time to quiet my heart, read the verses on worry (which I wrote in my planner), and to meditate on God's goodness. I feel like during the 20 minutes of solitude, God was communicating to my heart about His faithfulness throughout everything I encountering. In that moment, my faith was strengthened because I knew that God really cared for me and it mattered to Him if stuff like this really bothered me.
God is so good. Very very good!
I did a lot of my training for volunteering over the summer so I was able to start once classes started. Once we finish the basic training, the team leader sets us up with a staff person to receive "on-the-phone" training. First, we spend the initial session listening in on the calls. The next session we answer calls while the staff person fills in the information on the system. By the third session, we are supposed to do everything on our own while the staff person listens in to make sure we are doing what we are supposed to do. I'll be honest, I don't like someone having to look in or listen in on what I'm doing. It makes me feel real nervous and so self-conscious--thoughts keep racing through my head about what I should and shouldn't do. It's so distracting. I was worried that I'd have to do extra sessions just to get the system right. Thank God though, by my third session, my staff person said that I was ready, with minor things I needed to work on. I was surprised! So, three weeks ago, I started on my own. Let me tell you...I was so freaked out that day. I was incredibly nervous, again, only this time it was worse. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going have a heart attack! I don't think that the nervousness has anything to do with talking on the phone with people. Rather, it was about being adequate enough to provide the right resources and referrals. While on the call with the individuals, I keep thinking to myself that I am inadequate to provide the right resources and how I wanted to transfer them to someone else who could do a better job than me. BUT...after a couple of calls, I started taking in deep breaths and took a moment to say a pryer to God. I poured my heart out to Him about everything I was feeling. I believe God heard me because the moment I started praying, I hadn't received any calls for a good 20 minutes--just enough time to quiet my heart, read the verses on worry (which I wrote in my planner), and to meditate on God's goodness. I feel like during the 20 minutes of solitude, God was communicating to my heart about His faithfulness throughout everything I encountering. In that moment, my faith was strengthened because I knew that God really cared for me and it mattered to Him if stuff like this really bothered me.
God is so good. Very very good!
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