Atypical & Awesome “Reflection”

Some of you have known me just for a short time and maybe in a limited capacity. Last night, I was doing an assignment for one of my grad school classes and I started thinking back over my careers in social service and mental health. I’ve worked in case management for adults with mental retardation ((Tuscaloosa), early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delay (Selma), investigated child abuse cases and managed family service cases with the Department of Human Resources (Wilcox County), managed a group home for adults with intellectual disabilities (Enterprise), and for the past 10 years, I’ve been a therapist for at-risk juveniles in a residential treatment facility. I’m currently in grad school working on a second Master’s-this time in social work in pursuit of being a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and eventually working in private practice. Maybe. I’m actually thinking hard about my doctorate and even politics (lobbying) as there are a few social policy changes I am extremely passionate abour.

So yes, I am a songwriter and publisher. But I am also an advocate for the oppressed or marginalized and strive to be a compassionate yet assertive voice for others. Sometimes I feel like my life hasn’t quite worked out the way I had hoped but I’m moving forward. I may be 60 when I finally “finish” school (but then, I’ll go back and get a law degree). It’ll never end and I guess that’s okay. Onward and upward- always.