Uni

Power Dynamics

Jo, , , , , , 3 Comments

In many jobs, professional leadership is key to developing your skills and supporting others to grow on your team. Before becoming a Teaching Assistant or Student Social Worker, I was concerned that I would not be assertive enough or brave enough to challenge another person. I felt like if I tried to ‘be the boss’ then I would appear silly and patronising. This is not the case.

Social Care/Support Work
Social Care/Support Work
I have learnt that I can be assertive and act suddenly in a crisis, giving instructions clearly and appropriately. I do and have challenged my clients when I believe they have said or done something that was inappropriate, if a boundary has been crossed or if there is evidence someone has been dishonest. My challenges were always accepted by the client and my honesty and bluntness was usually appreciated.

SWVOICEAs a student social worker, one of the domains we must show evidence of accomplishing in our professional capabilities framework, is to be aware of the power invested in our role. This is a point I am recognising because although we do not have the power to do many things (which the public may or may not understand), we are still voices with knowledge of legislation and relevant policies who can work with vulnerable people or people struggling in society, and we can be advocates for them and be listened to.

That’s what I do during the day (and study the rest of the time). However, I also work for a catering company where I cater and silver-service waitress during some evenings and weekends for weddings and other important functions. Although tiring, it is refreshing to do some practical work and is completely opposite to what I do during the day.

silverserviceWaitressing is quite a reverse of roles. In Social Care Work I am the role with information, the contacts, the answers. This is respected, protected and my work is backed up with policies. As a waitress I am really there, literally, to serve. I am usually shouted orders by my boss (not always politely), patronised and humiliated in the kitchen if I don’t complete a task by their standards and I still stay standing there because I really need the money.

The problem is, as this is a reverse of roles, I am at the bottom of this hierarchy in the kitchen and it is very interesting to see things from the other direction. Work gets extremely hot and stressful in the kitchens and we need to be on our feet keeping busy at all times.
NAPKIN
From doing this work I now really appreciate more practical hands-on jobs that millions of workers battle through every day. They may not be the head chef or be in a role that is respected, but the kitchen could not run without them and the guests would not be served. Earning money is what it is at the end of the day and falling into bed at the end of it to grab a few hours’ sleep before the alarm clock rings again, is bliss.

Power Dynamics

Pennies & Pounds

Jo, , , , , , 5 Comments

dory

Why is it that the less money we have, the more we seem to want to spend? I’m living on a crazily strict budget at the moment and am barely out of my student overdraft, yet there always seems to be more to buy for. It’s someone’s birthday or I need another textbook or more medicine or its takeaway night or time for some early Christmas shopping…

Sometimes we just have to say ‘no’ and think about what we’re working towards.
I’m starting my final social work placement this week and am quite nervous – but very excited. It will be a tough year (tough career) I’m sure, but I am really looking forward to meeting the rest of my team and learning about my new responsibilities and putting more theory into practice.

In the evenings I will be waitressing and hopefully starting my support worker job at the weekends too so things will be very busy and money will be dripping in, though I’m sure it will flood away very quickly with house bills to pay, travel money to work and Christmas flying up soon.

I think one of my problems is that I just love to treat the people I care about and I know that I shouldn’t spend money I don’t have but I have decided to really put things in priority, but be sensible about it!

Last year my social life was a minimum because I lived and breathed placement and essays and assessed debates. While I only have a few months left of this course, which I’m sure will whiz by, I really do need to focus on my goal of getting this degree I’ve been working so hard for, becoming a qualified social worker. Then it’s the ASYE year to become an approved social worker. Then my life begins.

moneyI think what I’m trying to reflect on here is that while we don’t have much money, there is still so much to be thankful for. I’ve been given this amazing opportunity to study what I love and I might not have much in my purse but there are things we have that money cannot buy. I should be more disciplined with myself but I’ve learned that the odd night out or night avoiding studying shouldn’t be viewed as a treat or perk, but a necessity to keep our minds balanced and strong and prevent burn-out.

So I might feel like I’m struggling financially to pay my way but it is my goal which should keep me working, but also celebrating this journey as I live it.


‘No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.’ Matthew 6:24

‘Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Pennies & Pounds

Stuck in a wheel

Jo, , 2 Comments

hammyYour life is like a hamster wheel,
Turning around and around,
You can’t change direction, you can’t turn back,
Guidance is nowhere to be found,

Onwards you keep running,
You can’t slow down the pace,
But with all of this pressure
You doubt you’ll win the race,

You don’t know where your hope’s gone,
bunroutYou can’t help feeling sad,
The tiredness is overwhelming
And you’re concerned you’re turning mad,

As around and around you go,
Lights flashing in your face,
You can’t see the darkness coming
Through this back-breaking hell craze,

You just want to stop and think,
Take a break and sit down,
But your feet are running far too fast
And you fear you’re going to drown,

You’ll choke with exhaustion,
Be swallowed up, be a burnt out candle-wick,
Actually you’re feeling some stress and
Should take a day off sick,

If people judge you, let them,
No one knows you like you do,
Work shouldn’t feel like animal farm
Or feeding time at the zoo,

Thus even though you’re used to running
With no lunch-break and overtime,
hamsterstillNow is when you think of your health
In this amazingly upbeat rhyme!

Forgive yourself, be kind to yourself,
Not like that hamster in the wheel,
Because even though the world will just keep turning,
You can take a chance to stay still.

By Jody’s Scribbles

Stuck in a wheel

Being Home

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cuddlesThe comforting sound of the washing machine spinning my clothes around with soft thuds.
Of course we have a machine at uni but it’s not the same as our ancient one rattling away in the corner of the kitchen. I find everything about home so comforting that without realising, I accidentally spoon three lots of sugar into my tea instead of one, tasting the home sweet home of my childhood.

The smell of our old carpets. Our cats have been gone for a while but sometimes, I still smell them. What’s more, sometimes I’m sure I can hear the tinkling bell of their collars. But now I’m just getting creepy!

Our friendly neighbours constantly walk past, who smile and wave through the window. Some might feel this is an invasion of privacy but in our cul-de-sac everyone knows everyone and we always stop for a chat. Besides, it’s our own fault for not putting up net curtains.

There doesn’t always seem to be much food at home. All of my family work or go to school so if I pop home from uni without giving much notice, I’d have to dig in the freezer for leftovers or be creative with tins from the cupboard.

Everything about here feels comforting; my great nanny’s cabinet of ornate glasses, my parents’ wedding photo hanging next to the case of my mum’s dance books and my dad’s Japanese figurines, the cacti sitting on the windowsills, the oil paintings, the coffer on the landing which I’ve broken both my little toes on by running upstairs too fast and kicking it (owch), the damp clothes hanging all around the house whatever the season, the grandmother clock donging every half an hour.

When I’m home, I often order than we visit my nan because she lives just a couple of towns away and we don’t see her often enough. My favourite food in the world is her fried chicken, rice and gongo beans with warm apple drink on the side. Her homemade fishcakes with flying fish gravy. My nan’s home is full of even more warm memories of playing with cousins, the noisy cuckoo clock popping out on the hour, lying on the sofa with a sickness bug watching old murder mystery programmes on the television, playing hide and seek behind the sheds in the garden, climbing the big old tree to pick green gages and banging away on the old piano in the side room before our granddad got out of his armchair to come shout at us. One day I would love my nan to teach me how to make chicken just the way she does. I should do this soon.

Being Home

Coffee Catch-up

Jo, , , , , , 1 Comment

coatsaYesterday, I met up with an old friend for a coffee. We’re friends from college and hadn’t seen each other for a long time. A catch up over coffee (actually, a vanilla cooler, triple chocolate muffin, ice smoothie and amazing bacon sarnie) turned into six hours of laughing and talking, tucked away in this corner of the coffee shop.

These hours sped by and to me, it hadn’t really felt like much time had passed but I’ll only speak for myself – my friend might have been thinking, jeez, that Jody doesn’t shut up these days! I thought it was lovely to be able to sit down in some comfy armchairs, reminisce about sixth form days and our famous red benches where our lot always sat (in ALL weathers), catch up about uni and our current lives, talk about our plans, while the world whizzed by outside the window.

So I’m feeling like a soppy fool but I really do feel grateful to all of my friends who have always stood by me, who I can always call and rely upon, who make me smile when it’s the last thing I want to do, who put up with me day in, day out, but especially to the ones who are long distance and we only see each other in the holidays when we’re not working because when we do see each other it doesn’t feel like anything has changed, years on x

Coffee Catch-up

Finding the Balance

Jo, , , , , , , , , 5 Comments

Balance-Logo1 I had a mental breakdown a few weeks ago, no one saw me for a few days. It was scary. I have had a number of breakdowns in the past because I simply don’t take care of myself sometimes. I’ll work myself to the bone, doing overtime and studying every waking minute, not eating properly, not sleeping properly, sometimes not even washing when I feel very mentally unwell – completely neglecting my needs and isolating myself.

I know I am guilty of pushing myself too much. I feel the need to prove to people I am capable of achieving what I feel they don’t believe in me, I want to challenge myself beyond what is realistic for anyone to achieve and I beat myself up when I don’t feel like I have reached my insanely high standards for myself.

What’s important to realise is that of course, no person is perfect and no one can give their 100%, 100% of the time. Everyone has different thresholds and everyone has different weaknesses. This is why I might randomly faint or breakdown at the most inconvenient time in history, but this purely means I have to find the balance.

balance_yinyang_symbolWe all need balance, the yin for our yang. This is why I’ve started following a list of needs that should be fulfilled every day to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Number 1 is ‘survival’ – to eat breakfast (which I struggle with), lunch and dinner and healthy snacks in between, to make sure I drink plenty of water, to take the right medication, to shower every day. These are basic needs and may sound silly, but when I am feeling at my worst I can sometimes regress in behaviour and little things like brushing my teeth can suddenly feel like the hardest tasks in the world to do. I do it of course, but it’s so exhausting I feel like I’m climbing a mountain or I have to sit on the edge of the bath to do this.

Number 2, I must exercise every day. This could be as simple as doing some fitness in my room like the seven minute workout. I also like going out for walks. These little things make me feel like I’m doing ‘something’ when I’m feeling sluggish and they can also release endorphins too. Number 3 is ‘social needs’ – to make contact with other people. I never really spend a day at home all day, I will be at work or in the library if not seeing friends. My boyfriend and I talk on the phone everyday (its long distance) and I talk to my parents, sister and good friends often too. Even texting a friend can make all the difference to lifting my mood. My faith strengthens me a great deal too and I feel that reading a verse in my bible or listening to a worship song can really comfort me and pick up my mood too, helping me feel closer to God.

2-Corinthians-4-16-18-webNumber 4 is academic, I can get very easily stressed so I follow a priority quadrant listed very important and urgent, important but not urgent, quite important, and not important or urgent. This is a place for 4 separate lists where I can prioritise my priorities. This may sound crazy to you but it really, really helps me when I’m feeling stressed. There is no better feeling than crossing things off a list. Okay, there are… but this is an effective technique that I can use for work, uni, volunteering and home life. The point of this category is that I must do something academic every day whether this is working on an assignment, reading relevant news or a journal, working on my portfolio, watching a documentary relevant to my course, planning, emailing or jobsearching.

Finally, number 5 is ‘pleasure’. Apparently research shows that it is healthy to laugh 20 minutes a day. That’s one episode of Friends or Would I Lie to You. I love that we can now medicate ourselves television programmes. Another guilty pleasure of mine is Eastenders because it is the one programme I can watch and completely switch off to. Doing things we enjoy, in moderation, is healthy. We need to treat ourselves sometimes to that rubbish TV, that tub of ice cream, that new DVD, those pretty pair of shoes. I do anyway 😛

download (2)Fulfilling these five categories is my way of ensuring I have balance in my life. Hopefully, continuing to do this list of five things everyday – survival needs, exercise, social life, studying and pleasure, will prevent me from breaking down again anytime soon. I guess it goes back to survival instincts, to eat when you’re hungry, to rest when you’re tired, to listen to your body and not to push yourself beyond your capacity, to achieve the balance you need in your life.  

Finding the Balance