Rachel's New Job

Well, a few weeks ago, I started the job I had been planning on. I wasn't really happy with it, so I decided to keep looking. That same week, I applied for another job, and amazingly got it! The following blog is really long, but I am just so excited about my new job!

Here is a little comparison between the two:

Old Job:
I was training to be a manager at a Kmart store in Idaho Falls. I had interned there last summer and they gave me a job offer, and I accepted it, since the salary was really good and I had no other ideas for work in the Rexburg area. It was only a 6 month program, then if there were no openings in the area (which was likely) they would want me to relocate. Since that wasn't an option, I was only planning on the 6 months. I started the job and it really stressed me out. (I know that new jobs are always hard, and I didn't just give up-- I had spent 3 months during my internship doing the same thing so I knew what the job was like). The big thing for me was the schedule. Since I was salaried, I was scheduled for 48 hours every week on top of the 35 minute commute to Idaho Falls (35 minutes in perfect weather... which it wasn't). Two days a week I had to work 8am to 9pm with only a 1 hour lunch break. I had two days off, but they were random and usually not on weekends. I was as likely to have a Sunday off as I was to have a Tuesday off. I hated it. The work itself wasn't that bad, but it was not fulfilling work and I dreaded going to work every day. I was going to try to stick it out for the 6 months, but I was blessed with something else right away!

New Job: PSR (Psychosocial Rehabilitation) Specialist
For this job, I work one-on-one with children with some sort of social/behavioral disability. The main categories are problems with Authority, Anger/Agression, and Attention/focusing. Each child is allowed a certain number of hours (usually about 5 or 6) per week to meet with me so I can work on their specific problems with them. They all attend the partial care center that employed me, so usually I pick them up from there and take them to work either in their home or in a community setting such as a library, park, museum, or grocery store. From what I hear, the hardest part is that I have to submit notes after every session describing what problem we were working on, justify our activity in relation to that problem, and evaluate the child. There are strict rules for these notes since they are submitted to Medicaid, like you can't say words like "played" or "activity" -- instead, you say "task"-- but I think I will catch on quickly. I have already been complimented on how quickly I am getting the hang of the notes. The pay is not quite as good as my old job, but it is just fine for us, and when I factor in the 48 hour weeks I was working, I'm really not making that much less per hour. Plus, it can last more than 6 months.

Here are some reasons I am excited for my new job:

• It is in Rexburg, so no more commute to Idaho Falls.
• I make my own schedule!! It's my job to figure out with the parents when to meet with the kids. During the school year, I have to meet with the school-aged kids mostly in the afternoons, evenings, and maybe Saturdays if I need to, but it doesn't bother me. I won't have to work any Saturday nights or Sundays! So far I don't even work Fridays, but that will probably change since I will get more kids soon.
  
• I am very independent. I can come up with my own activities to do with the kids and I don't have a boss breathing down my neck.
• This job is directly related to my major in sociology. A Bachelor's Degree in a social science was required and I will actually use what I learned in college.
• On my notes and all other paperwork, I have to sign my name with my credentials! (Rachel Grimmer, B.S.) Sweet!
• Dress: casual. The best of both worlds- I feel like a professional, but I don't have to dress like one!
  
• Each child is given an hour per week for me to make a "collateral contact" with their parents or teachers. These can be done over the phone. So, since I am starting out with 5 kids, 5 of my weekly work hours can be done at home on the phone.
• Everyone I work with is really friendly and willing to help me.
  

Last week I had training and made my first collateral contacts with the parents. All the parents are so nice, flexible with schedules, and trust me as a professional. I also met with 2 kids and just got to know them a little better. The kids all seem great and none of them seem to be out of control or anything. Like all jobs, I was a little bit uncomfortable starting out because there are no specific 'lesson plans' or anything. However, I ran into another PSR in the library who gave me ideas and told me that lots of simple activities can be beneficial for kids with certain problems. For example, if a child has trouble paying attention, they can work on a maze or a craft and I evaluate how well they focus. Or, for a child with problems with authority and following rules, we can play games that require following rules. She said my job is basically teaching social skills, and my relationship with the kids is beneficial itself. The partial care center also has huge binders full of activity ideas for certain behavioral problems. I'm sure I will get the hang of it soon and I already feel less stressed about working!

This job was a major blessing for me. I know it can be difficult to find good jobs these days, and I still can't believe I so quickly found, was hired, and started this job that seems so perfect for me. I'm sure it will have its challenges, but I know it is a better fit for me than what I was doing before. Our prayers were answered and I am so happy with how things turned out.

*If anyone has any ideas of activities, games, or crafts for children, or knows of any good websites or books, please let me know!