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Balance, Balance!

         There is no doubt about it the Lord has given me a heart for traveling, but most importantly the gift (if I do so say myself) of finding the up most joy in helping other people.  I'm going to let you in on a secret: I HATED high school. Plain out hated it, from the social aspect to homework.  The greatest moments of those four years was that of my out reach experience.  Whether it was in my own community or traveling miles away to Costa Rica I found the more time spent helping the less time I spent over thinking my own life.

        Many of my closest friends (esp. those from church) began to reach the "leaving the nest" time.  I was trying to sprint through my senior year as they were moving out of state, some- even out of country.  My heart longed for mission work, but the school system was screaming "COLLEGE."  Every day of school was a constant reminder and evaluation of where you life was heading.

How many colleges have you applied to?
Did you get your letters of recommendations sent out? 
What majors are you between?
Is your FAFSA sent in?

       I was overwhelmed to say the least, the pressure and uncertainty of the future.  What I continuously strove for was a balance between my dream of being a missionary and continuing my education.  I enrolled at the University of Maine Farmington as a Rehabilitation Services major.  My first day here I'd never even heard of the major, but when I did my eyes popped open!  Unlike Psych which main focus is on that of the mind and processing, rehab takes a look at the individuals entire environment and helps them get to a better place physically, emotionally and mentally.

Social work has grasped my work.  Literally social workers are practically already doing mission work.  Social workers work with the individual themselves, with their set issue but they also look at the issue as a whole.  For example my main passion is working with sex trafficking victims.  As a social worker I may have a client who was once trafficked him/herself, not only will I provide resources and help to the road of healing but I will look at the big picture.  Asking questions such as, "Why is trafficking even an issue?  What can we do in our every day lives to stop this issue from snow blowing into an even bigger mess?  Who in society is the main target, and what other underlying factors play a roll?"

Social work, missionary style.  I think I've found my balance.




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