Saturday, September 15, 2012








Friday, August 31, 2012


Week 2 is about coping; am I?

I feel pressure to do well. There is no one else who is contributing to that expectation except me. I’m old enough that I don't feel the need to live up to other's expectations but still feel the need to prove (not sure who I am proving this too) that I could’ve done this when I was younger (probably me). I’m not sure I could've done this. I certainly never was as committed as I am now.
I get stressed due to the time demands. I work full time and often over time. I have been walking with some co-workers two nights a week which cuts into my home and school work time, but it is important for my physical and emotional health and I’m not going to give it up. So it is the time limits that are my biggest issue. I am trying to get a schedule in place so I can do a little bit at a time and never wait until the last minute. This has worked for me in the past with online classes; however this week we didn’t get our assignments in two classes until Tuesday afternoon and then one of the classes added another discussion topic a day before it was due, so when things are unpredictable like that, I stress out more, just ask my husband. I’m hoping that was just a week two glitch and it is not going to be a recurring problem, please…please…please.
As far as who is taking the wheel on my educational journey, it is ME! Who else? No one told me to do it or encouraged me to other than my co-workers. It's all me. I do not need the degree as I am already doing the work and earning my degree will not earn me a pay raise, I am doing this because I have always had this personal goal and I hope to learn more about what I do so that I can be a better helping professional.
My co-workers/fellow students and I are working together to help each other stay focused and to support each other when it seems like we can’t go on. I will help them and other fellow students as those needs arise and I hope to contribute experience and ask questions that might make people, including myself, look at issues from a different perspective.
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Thursday, August 23, 2012


Social work called me


Good evening everyone. I am making this attempt to write an oh so interesting blog, but am very apprehensive about doing so. Here goes nothing...

I turned 50 this year which will explain the crown in my profile picture. I celebrated with my girlfriends and my daughters in Calistoga and we had a great time.


I was raised by a single mom (most of the time, tho dad would come and go). Had an older sister. Was a leader in school. Got pregnant and married at 16, first child at 17 and divorced at 18. Worked and went to school, but the paycheck was too tempting and didn't finish. Remarried at 23, 2 more kids by 26. Married 27 years now. Tried school off and on and completed my AA but could never finish the next step. Raised a nephew, met a younger sister that had been placed for adoption when I was 5, my mom died (tho she's still in my closet 'cuz I don't know what to do with her). I volunteered a lot and worked part time, and 7 years ago went to work for the county where 5 years ago I began as a Social Worker I working for Child Welfare Services.



I chose social work, or it chose me, I think because I was always trying to help people. When I volunteered, it made me happy and I was passionate about helping people to make positive changes in their lives and so it was fortuitous that I not only was hired by the county but had a progressive Program Manager who decided to hire from within the Department and train the social workers rather than hire new graduate students who may have the education but do not have ties to the community and would not end up staying.

I received my California High School Proficiency Exam the day I got married and my AA 15 years later. I have taken a few upper division courses online through University of Phoenix and also Kaplan. I attempted to attend HSU twice before; once right after I received my AA and again after all my kids had left home, but the commute was something I didn't like. I worked in banking when I was a young mother, then I was a stay at home mom who volunteered in my children's classrooms, coached at the middle school then the high school, held part time jobs at the Builder's Exchange then CASA, and worked for my husband's dental practice. It wasn't until I was hired at the county that I felt like I had found my niche. I enjoyed my co-workers and the structure of the duties. I began working at Juvenile Hall but hated the 24 hour shifts so when a job opened at Social Services, I took it. About 1 1/2 years later I transferred from Eligibility where we help people with thier cash aid, Medi-cal, and food stamps to Child Welfare. I work in the court unit where I help people who are either trying to get their children back or who have them back and are trying to maintain a safe and stable life for them. I also work with children who have been permanently removed and are in long term foster care, guardianships, or who are going through adoption. I am actively involved with our local tribes as the Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA is very important in how we do business and what our recommendations to the court may be for an American Indian child as there are different requirements that we must meet in order to provide services to the family.

My goal is to complete my BSW in the 3 years of the online program and then I would like to go on to the Advanced Standing MSW 2 year program. The reason I want to do this, especially at my age is that with a BSW I will not receive any promotion or additional pay; however with an MSW I will. This higher rate of pay will allow me to retire at a higher level of pay and that I hope will make it all worth it. I also believe in continuing education and the more I learn about what I do the better I will be at doing it. It has also been a personal goal for me as long as I can remember. Lastly, I would like to be a good role model for my children and grandchildren.

I would like you all to know that I get frustrated at times, but will apologize if I say or write something that is hurtful. The other thing is that the most important thing to me is my children and grandchildren because they make me happy.



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