Thomas Gouard
I just came off of my first week at my new job and I must say that I value every single hour of time off that I have. In-between the two jobs I have, I work five days out of the week, sometimes at both jobs two days out of the week. The first week gave me the opportunity to get a feel of the job itself and time off in-between scheduled time worked. Once the weekend came I took advantage of my time off the best way I knew how which was a well-needed 17-mile bike ride within the city of Chicago, hehe.
Assessing how things went and the job itself, my plans are to stick around for either six months or a year then heavily pursue my career as a substance abuse counselor or at least get in with an agency that pertains to addictions counseling. My reasons are because I already have experience working with adults with disabilities, so it is nothing new, plus the stress is a lot higher being that the clients are lower functional. I value the experience of working with adults with disabilities, but I cannot see myself working in the field 10 + years, it just put so much wear on a person mentally.
I’am very grateful to have had a successful transition from one job to another. And the new job offers benefits, higher pay, more work hours, and the possibility of more opportunities, but at the end of the day I would like to move on in the near future and pursue a career in substance abuse, even if it is a decrease in pay. My fear is the risk of burnout before I even get in the career field I’am pursuing in college which I have no interest in because what good will I be for my current job and where I plan to be in the future.
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Hopefully you will find the balance in your jobs. It’s not good to have an exhaustive job: it makes us weaker…
I feel that way throughout the week, but once the weekend hits I feel stronger because luckily I have it off. I’am planning to make adjustments once I start registering for semester, or maybe I’ll just move somewhere else. I have lately been considering moving near family.
I just thought about people who do not exercise regularly, for them an exhaustive job is even more exhaustive. They at least should do long walks in the nature. Oxygen!
I totally agree and see it in the field I’am in currently. I always hope that my drive to workout will motivated them to workout as well, so I’am always speaking about fitness stuff.
that’s a valid concern, but at least you are aware of it
Yep. They work the sh*t out of their employees with no care in the world of them burning out.
you were in the armed forces, so you’re already familiar with this philosophy…
Yes I am, but I definitely did not expect to get out and experience the same thing.
unfortunately, it is in the private sector and academia as well
Whatever you decide, I am sure you will be an asset to the company. You have a lot to offer. Good luck!
Thank you, Carol. I just don’t want to miss out on following what I set out to do.
Benefit from time while time is on your side and pursue all of your goals as best you can.
Have a great weekend, Rasma
I think that no service to fulfill all our desires.
Enjoy your weekend, Vidocka
life is a process, my friend. Time is your friend for now!
Yes it is. I will be looking into moving out of the city as well in order to pick up something different or in the counseling realm.
My wife (she is a social worker) always says “each of us has a population that needs us.”
Find your population my friend, you have much to give!
I have that already identified which is either military or homeless. Out of the two it be military being my true preference
First you served than you serve those you served alongside. You are a very special person.
Knowing that it’s a a major issue that needs more attention, plus I loved being in the substance abuse billet i had in the military. They had so much of a voice combating the higher ranked individuals.
It has been a huge issue in the US Military since Vietnam. Well huge, is a relative term. It has been an issue since Vietnam.
Heartbreaking for myself to see that era stuggling with no legit services to help them out. Yet another thing I hope to assist with in my projected career assisting military veterans or active duty.
It can be a very difficult situation, good for you, being an advocate!
I almost had something close to it, but they didn’t consider me
I have confidence in you. It will happen my friend, it will happen!
Next year I plan to start searching outer Chicago. My mom mentioned a place in Indianapolis that I plan to search out.
I lived just south of Indianapolis (Greenwood) for 11 years. Let me know if I can tell you about good places to be.
I will remember that. Moving to a place like Indianapolis would bring different energy because it’s not in Illinois, a place I consider home across the entire state.
I moved to Indiana from Chicago when I was five years old.