Training...

Tonight I am in Richmond and successfully finished the first of two of my days of training academy for NCG. I have met some great people, and it has been so nice to interact and spend time with these people who actually treat me as an equal. Its not at all like Chattering Children where I felt like a child, like my input wasn't accepted or even acknowledged even if it was just about a preference for lunch. I know my next couple weeks will be hard to get use to and I am still weary about gas prices because we really don't get completely reimbursed. But the ability to work with these people and actually be fortunate enough to hopefully help someone is an amazing feeling. When I was in highschool, I remember thinking that it wasn't fair that anyone had to go through what my brother and I did, or what my friends in oregon did. I met some great kids in oregon who I know were not fortunate enough to have the kind of support that I did and I know that many of them did not go far and continue to fall. I hear this occasionally through word of mouth of distant friends and my mother as well.
I also took a step forward and attempted to sign up to volunteer for UNICEF, only to be shut down again. I found out that I have to be 25 years old just to volunteer, and I am soo frustrated with UNICEF right now. I don't know why they put such restrictions on their program when I want to learn and find out if that is what I really want because I feel it is. Anyway that is a challenge I will put off for another day. You would not believe how much information you must learn to be a counselor. We spent 4 hours alone today on restraint techniques. Its very interesting but I just hope that I can really affect change in someones life because I know their are so many who helped me I want to share that. I am not sure I know how just yet but I have some great new acquaintances that I can look up to and learn from and this has been a very happy and wonderful day for me.

Lots of New

It has been awhile, way to long actually, since I have updated my blog on here. I have to say lots has gone on so I will start from the beginning.. well kind of. I lost my job in March! It was horrible and I couldn't find a job anywhere (even home depot) for two months. Finally thanks to a friend of mine I found a great job as a home based counselor with National Counseling Group in Manassas VA. I know it is a little far, which sucks with the horrible gas prices, but it is a great opportunity for me. I am actually doing the social work thing! It was really scary at first, having to jump right in and accept a position that I had no idea if I could do or not. But I am starting to really enjoy it. I get to make my own schedule and shift things around as needed. I only have 3 clients currently and I will have more next week. Monday and tuesday I spend in Richmond for some extra training that they have at the training academy down there and than I am on my own.
I am also super excited because with the flexibility of my job I will still get to go to the beach! YAY! Which somewhat leads to my next news which is.... that I have moved in with my cousin Pamela in Alexandria and out of aunt syds. This is another wonderful thing because now my relationship with aunt syd is so much better. I hated it when we fought, I constantly felt like a disappointment and failure and she is so proud of me now. So that really is the majority of my news. I am having a good time in my new place although I am having to get use to my cousins quirks. She is in her late 20's but is very .. conservative i guess. She's the type who would rather have a tea party than go to a movie. She told me the other day that she didn't like the couch because it was too squishy.. she likes firm couches and she doesn't think they are to lounge upon.. Yah, no clue their, but i still love her to death and i officially paid my first months rent this week so I am really on my own, wooohooo! Thats all for now. Heres a picture of the view from the apartment..

Starting anew...

It has been far to long since I have updated this blog, and I must say at this changing point in my life I am making a decision that blogging here is much more my "cup of tea" than on myspace these days. I now live with my cousin pamela which is working out wonderfully. Pamela is in her late twenties and very mature and a great influence on me. So we live in a condo in Alexandria on the 14th floor, it is absolutely gorgeous at night(pic to left). I am getting along so much better with my aunt that I am ecstatic. This is what I have needed. To top it all off I have a new job as a home based counselor with an organization in Manassass VA, called the National Counseling Group (www.nationalcounselinggroup.com).
It is an opportunity for me to really put my social work degree to work. I already have three clients assigned to me. I go to a training academy in richmond for two days next week and then I am basically on my own. I set my own appointments and my own schedule and I do a lot of paper work. The other day I worked from 8am - 11pm and finally got home around 11:45pm. It was a long day but worth it, and most days won't be that long.
I feel that things are beginning to work out for me, I feel more independent and I also feel like I can handle that independence. I have been able to work more on my newest project my blanket for my newest baby cousin McKenzie who is 4 months old today. I can't tell you how sweet the kids in my family and I am so grateful to have them in my life and so close. I will leave you with a few pictures.