There's only a few more steps to go!

There's not much left to do! One year remains before I graduate. I'm currently a student at the College studying social work. I already completed an internship during my first year that helped me confirm my choice. One year from now, the real game begins! The job I've always wanted to do will be practiced. However, there is a problem! Too many options of work environments were presented to me, and now I have to choose! I could work for the CIUSSS of Laval or Montreal and take part in the health and social services system; or I could work in a school for the CSSDM and work with children. Also, another possibility for me would be to work with community organizations and assist the local community. It makes me wonder what I should choose to ensure a happy life?

Choice 1 : CIUSSS.

Choice 2 : CSSDM.

Choice 3 : Community Organizations.

CIUSSS.

I am very excited about my career prospects at CIUSSS! In this field, there are really great opportunities! With all the overtime offered by the government, I get to make a premium wage. For example, a quick pass to a mortgage might help me buy my dream home and care. It may be also possible to retire comfortably with good money. Eventually, after one year the moment arrived, and I was scheduled for an interview with Human Resources for a position with the CIUSSS. After passing all the interviews, Human Resources gave me three options: working for CLSC of Laval with people of different ages; CHSLD it's a residential and long-term care center for seniors; and finally, work in hospital environment. It is challenging to work with every clientele because the work situations are different. What should I choose?

Choice 1 : CLSC.

Choice 2 : CHSLD.

CLSC.

There were many vacant positions at the CLSC of Laval because they needed a lot of employees. Furthermore, there were a lot of benefits to working with them. They pay a good salary and offers good health insurance. It's time for me to choose my clients and find my way. I could work with immigrants. I could work with the elderly in private residences. That means I need on-the-job training in order to fully understand how the intervention method works. I could work with young people in a youth center, a clientele I already have experience with during my student job. In whose lives I'll make a positive difference?

Choice 1 : Immigrants.

Choice 2 : Elderly in private residences.

Choice 3 : Young people in a youth center.

Immigrants.

My first year at work was an utter disappointment. My dream was to work for the government in the immigration department, but I felt useless since I couldn't communicate with immigrants because of the language barrier.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Elderly in private residences.

As many of us know, our country is in a deep corruption in every aspect of operation either in public or private sector. Most of us are familiar with countless stories on how we have to bribe people just to get things done at government offices but lesser known stories exist in private sectors too. As a result of my two years of working in the residence, I noticed a lot of corruption in the institution. It did not correspond to my personal values, so I decided to change my job.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Young people in a youth center.

Working with young people is fun, but it requires a lot of patience. I've worked with teenagers before and found it really rewarding. However, there was one problem with this job. There is no mutual understanding between the members of the team, and they are not helpful to each other. Imagine, in my first day, I had my OJT, and I was the only trainee in the organism, the person who was supposed to give me the training came late, so I was alone for the first 4 hours.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

CHSLD.

Those who support seniors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle can appreciate immense satisfaction in working in the field. I have learned so much when I was an intern in a center for the elderly people. When I've got accepted I felt confident because I already had an experience with the golden age people, as I had two options, working with people of 60 years and older or in the palliative care for the people in the end of life care. What should I choose?

Choice 1 : People of 60 years and older.

Choice 2 : People in the end of life care.

People of 60 years and older.

It is often necessary to have certain personality traits and skills to care for the elderly. Sadly my experience wasn't enough. My patient harassed me and pissed me off to the point that I decided to quit.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

People in the end of life care.

As I am a very sensitive person I wasn't able to provide the right care for them, it was so overwhelming. When on of my patients deceased, I couldn't stop crying for days.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

CSSDM.

Working in schools wasn't my first choice, but when I was accepted in one of them I was excited because it's a different experience. There are two options to working with students: with children in a primary school, with teenagers in a secondary school or with adults in an adult school. What do I choose?

Choice 1 : Children in a primary school.

Choice 2 : Teenagers in a secondary school.

Choice 3 : Adults in an adult school.

Children in a primary school.

After two months of working with kids, I have found that I have zero patience to deal with them.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Teenagers in a secondary school.

Working with teenagers was a big challenge and the coworkers where something else. The teenagers had less respect to me as I was young, and they didn't take me seriously enough. The office politics at the school made my job a horrible place to be at.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Adults in an adult school.

The adult School where I used to work had a party for the Halloween. I was the newest employee at the school, and students didn't know me well-enough. One of the students asked me what I'm dressing up as for the party. After telling him I'm going as a sailor, he proceeded to ask for a picture of me in the costume. I did recognize that was inappropriate behavior for a student to address their social worker in that way. But I never filed a complaint, in part I wasn’t sure that he was flirting with me, but in the other part I sensed some kind of flirtation. I wasn’t sure if it was any kind of sexual harassment back then, but if it were, I knew saying anything would change my workplace environment.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Community Organizations.

I have decided to work in the community organizations because it offers a lot of services and programs for the people in need. Compared to government jobs, the pay is lower, but I'll do what I can to keep the good for people who often go forgotten. I didn't have a difficulty finding a job because a lot of organization needs employees. I could work with substance abusers, homeless people or youth center. Which one I choose?

Choice 1 : Substance abusers.

Choice 2 : Homeless people.

Choice 3 : Youth Center.

Choice 4 : Women's Center.

Substance abusers.

I have worked with literally thousands of substance abusers and their families. All of them come in for different reasons. Many of them are there because they have been compelled by the court, many are there because their loved ones are pressuring them, and most of them come to me because they are at the end of their ropes. After several years, I wasn't able to work with them because it was draining my energy and the hope that I had to help them change.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Homeless people.

A larger organization may have mostly office workers, while a smaller organization's staff might interact with the homeless frequently. It is possible for support workers for the homeless to transform the lives of people who live rough or deal with housing difficulties. After being accepted, I had the choice between working in the office or working in the street. What should I choose?

Choice 1 : Working in the office.

Choice 2 : Working in the street.

Working in the office.

Office work was monotonous. I had to assess clients' needs and producing support plans, advise clients of their rights collating and provide information on hostel vacancies and housing rights. Initially, I thought it would be interesting to work in an office, but it was the reverse.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Working in the street.

Getting involved in street work is really interesting, because you learn so much from others. The downside is that it can sometimes be dangerous. One day during one of my tours, I noticed one of my regulars lying in the middle of the road. He was acting out of control when I was trying to calm him down, and I injured my arm as a result. It was then that I decided to look into another clientele.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Youth Center.

My application to the Youth Center was finally accepted! It was my mission to help young people's emotional and social development in an informal setting but through educational processes. By developing supportive relationships with young people, and getting them to experience new things. Working with youth does not come with a regular schedule. I spend most of my evenings talking with youngsters about issues that affect them. In the end, I decide to switch jobs because I became tired of working long hours.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!

Women's Center.

It is the mission of the Women's Centre to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for women from all walks of life. My acceptance to work in a Women's Center made me very happy. However, it did not last for long because I had a lot of issues with my teammates.

Choice 1 : There's only a few more steps to go!