Styles

When facing a difficult problem I use several tools to help me reach a decision. I like to take a step back from the situation and just think about it. I evaluate what I want to come out of the situation and how best to achieve the outcome I desire. I love to make pros and cons list and then attached a number system to figure out what make the most sense on paper. I then have to evaluate what makes the most sense in my heart this is a bit harder. I find talking about the situation with parties that have insight or knowledge in the field helpful.

These tools have been very useful lately as my bothers and I have been dealing with medical and housing issues for our mother. She has a chronic illness which has involved a great deal of reorganization of our lives to assist her needs over the years. She does not have access to the doctors she needs in Lake County, which is her home, and we do not have the recourses to continue to go to San Francisco on a regular basis. She has been in and out of the hospital for years and it has recently gotten worse. My brothers and I deceived it would be best to move her to Eureka where she would still be close to family and have access to the doctor she needs.

This is challenging as we do not want to force her out of her home but at this time it is no longer safe. Using pros and cons list and communicating with my brothers on a regular basis is allowing us to find the best solution possible in solving a complex problem. These tools allow us to all express our view points and take into consideration what is best for our mother while insuring she receives the care she needs in a safe place. It also allows us to organize our thought and approach our mother united so she knows we are all working together in her best interest.

 I think using tools such as pros and cons lists and talking about situations allows me to use the American/British style of writing and get right to the point. I like to do all of the research before making a decision or starting to write a paper.   

Left or Right

I am more of a left brain operator. I am often overwhelmed by the whole picture and need to break things down to manageable to-do-list. At the beginning of the week I make a list of all of the assignments due and then go through the list and check each one off. I like structure and logic. I try to make my decisions based on fact and not emotions. Of course, the emotions can win out depending on the circumstances. I find I work best in an organized environment and try to be as organized as possible at all times. I would like to be able to engage more in my creative right brain. I think this would create more balance between my left and right brain.

Obstacles to Writing

I have found the biggest obstacles I have to writing come from both external and internal. Writing does not come easy to me and is often a struggle. I have found I write best when I take time to research the expectation or material, have a quite place to work and not have time constraints. I find it really helpful to know what is expected of me and do research so I can think about how I want my writings to flow.  This is often the part that takes me the longest. I have found having a quite place to work with plenty of time before the due date easies the pressure I feel and allows me to think more clearly.

One of the other biggest factors is what is going on in my world at the moment. It is tremendouly difficult for me to write when I have stressful or emotional things going on in my life. This week my mother was admided to ICU and is going to need to be moved to a skill nursing facility. The stress and emotional toll of events like these make it so difficult to sit and do homework. I find doing physical work so much eaiser in situations like these as it feels like I have no mental capaticy left for writing. I also have to set aside my desire to work with plenty of time and work under more pressure making the whole process more difficult. It seems like I have written hundreds of papers since I started at community college and I still struggle with low self-writing-esteem. I wonder if it ever goes away or if that is what drives me to continue to try and improve my skills.

Week 8

I have had such a busy and exciting week. I was able to take a tour of our local Probation Department, Juvenal hall and a corporation that contracts with the county to provide support services for low risk offenders. Everyone that I came in contact was helpful, knowledgeable and generous with their time. I learned so much about the process that a offender goes through once they are arrested. I was surprised at all of the resources available to assist them. I was also happy to see their is so much focus put on rehabilitation and the individuals needs. I am really starting to see how all of our studies will be applied in the field. I found the whole experience truly fascinating and am really thankful I was able to meet so many wonderful people.  

I am starting to get really nervous as the time is coming to settle into a spot for next years field placement and I am just not sure what will be the best fit for me. I know that I want to work with children but I am just not sure in what capacity. I am torn between counseling, special education teaching or working in an area like probation. I am having trouble finding any one with an MSW in the school district or in probation. I have found a person with a BASW in each department. However, I am so thankful that everyone I have talked to about doing my field placement as seem genuinely interested in having me. It is always nice to have options.

I wish you all a wonderful and restful spring break!

Week 4-The Crash!

We were coming home from my son's basketball game last night when we were struck by a drunk driver. Thankfully no one had any major injuries. The woman who hit may family has prior DUI'S! My emotions are all over the map. The social worker in me knows that she must be an alcoholic and clearly needs help. The mother in me is furious that she harmed my children and could have killed them.

After we were hit, I immediately checked on my children and then I went to check on the other car. I asked the women if she was ok. She said she was and then asked if there was anyway to keep the police out of this. As she spoke that sentence I could see she and hear that she was intoxicated. This furthers my anger as my first thought was to make sure everyone was ok and hers was to not involve the police. She never even asked if my children were ok!!!! As we waited for the police she started to complain about the damage to her car. My goodness I had to walk away as I never wanted to hit someone so bad in my life. (I know that is very un-social worker of me, but at least I did walk away!!) I do not understand how she could think so clearly about the consequences of her actions after being hit by an air bag but could not think of it prior to starting up her car. Her immediate thoughts after the accident was not wanting to get into trouble..Why didn't she think of this before she went to the bar when she knew she did have a safe way home? Why have the previous DUI'S not made an impact on her? What will it take for her to change her ways? I do not feel her illness or bad choices should absolve her from her responsibility to society.

When I asked her why she would put my family at risk? Why she felt she had the right to drive drunk and risk killing someone? She said she was just really mad about something. Yes so am I!!!

This accident has also re-enforced my love of my community as before I was even able to get my children out of the car there was a host of bystanders there to help us. I am so thankful to live in a community full of wonderful people willing to help without ever being asked.

 

Week 3 of Semester two..on our way!

I am excited to start my second semester at HSU and feel great to have one semester under my belt. The first few weeks I have had a few challenges with the updated system but am finding my way. I am nervous and overwhelmed with the thought of the work load for the semester. It feels like an avalanche of work but I will continue to dig my way out one paper or one post at a time.

I found this weeks reading Chapter 3 of Why I Write to mimic my feelings. I really enjoyed Timothy Patrick McCarthy's writing about the struggles and accomplishments in his life. I found it interesting he still experienced feelings of "intellectual inadequacy" at his level of academia(p.31). I love that he was so honest in his self-reflection and allowed us to view him through his words. I found Mr. McCarthy's to be inspirational when he wrote he would "replace insecurity with courage"(p.38). I think I shall strive for the same. I also think this is a central message I will be trying to empower my clients with. If we are able to let go of our insecurities and proceed with courage it seem the possibilities would be limitless.

I wish you all a great week!

McCarthy, Timothy Patrick (2006). Why I Write. In J. Downs (Ed.), Why We Write(pp. 27-38) New York:Routledge.