Two months ago my youngest daughter Jenna graduated from the University of Arizona. Yeah Jenna!
During her last two semesters she worked in a program administered by the University that helped kids-at-risk focus their attention on staying in school and spending their non-school time in positive and productive activities.
The hours were long, particularly while carrying a full load at school, and the pay was so-so. But she really got into it and found that she enjoyed doing something to help these kids and make a positive difference in their lives.
And after listening to some of the stories about what she had to deal with, I have to say that she's very brave too. Some of it is tough stuff.
Because of her experience there and what she learned at that job she decided that after graduation she would pursue a career in social services.
And just like Jenna, she aced her first interview and was hired as a junior case worker at an adoption agency. Talk about tough stuff.
She's been at it a month now, and this is the real thing.
She's the person responsible for the well-being of the kids assigned to her. She oversees, coordinates and administers. She works with kids being given up or taken from their biological parents, with prospective foster and adoptive parents, the legal process and the courts, doctors, counselors, and psychiatrists, and the continued well being of the kids after they've been settled in a new home.
So when I asked her about how she deals with all of the emotional stuff, she said, 'dad, we're helping these kids, and if we didn't do it they'd be in much worse shape' Just like Jenna, just do the right thing.
