See ya later...

It’s so hard to believe that tomorrow is my last day. I can remember my first day like it was yesterday… wearing the most uncomfortable shoes because they were the only ones that matched and I wanted everything to flow right… only really it was like 8 months ago and I definitely still wear those shoes. Beauty is pain!
So maybe I should start by naming everything that I’ve learned and what I’ll take with me as I enter my next stage in life. First, I would just like to say that the most awarding thing about social work is watching all your hard work pan out. It is an amazing feeling knowing that you are helping another person and without your dedication, they may never be able to reach their ultimate dreams in life.
Another thing I’ve learned is patience. I mean, not that I’ve never had it before but I’ve learned that good things come to those who wait, even if it doesn’t always seem true or if it seemed like watching grass grow happened a lot faster… it’ll happen, just wait.
And lastly I’d just like to thank everyone I’ve met and/or worked with the past eight months. I want to thank everyone at the Supported Community Living Initiate for letting me be a part of this very rewarding experience and I’d also like to thank the people I’ve worked with and let them know that they’ve also helped me throughout the past year. They’ve helped me become a stronger person inside and helped make me understand the power of respect and determination.
So instead of saying goodbye I’m just gonna say, see ya later …because you only say goodbye if you’re not coming back. And I’ll be back.

First floor does not mean go up/down a couple steps first.

So I’ve been working with this man, who will remain nameless, for the past 6 or so months now. He is very inspring and dedicated with high hopes of eventually moving into his own apartment which sounds like an easy process, right? You find an apartment you like and then you move in. However, for me, the process has been long, frustrating and at times seemed almost impossible.
Since the man I’m referring to receives government funding and resides in a wheelchair, finding an apartment that was available and accessible for him is quite rare. I can’t even begin to tell you how many apartment complexes I’ve called that do not accept Section 8 Vouchers nor do they have apartments available or available on the first floor. Oh, and when I say “first floor” I mean no steps. Zero. No steps going up and no steps going down. When you hear first floor, do you think it’s still okay to have a few steps going up before you arrive at the front door? Because it’s not okay and it’s very misleading and annoying.
Well, needless to say, this story does actually have a happy ending. We finally found an apartment that is not only on the first floor, or should I say “ground level” because that would apparently be more appropriate, but it’s completely handicap accessible! So all in all, it was worth it and very rewarding. Finally, another goal met and another dream come true.