How long have you been at DCCH, what is your position, and what transitions have you had here (if any)?
I started working at DCCH in June of 2020 as a part time weekend floater. In November of 2020, I switched from being a weekend floater to being stationed in an apartment. Then shortly after, I moved into the full-time recreation position in 2 Rear which is my current position!
What's something people don't know about you?
Something people may not know about me is that I was actually named after Jessie from Toy Story!
Tell us about family - what's that look like?
Growing up, I always believed that family was the group of people that you were born into and shared the same bloodline with. I have slowly realized that family isn’t only who you are related to by blood, but it is also who you make it. Over my past year at DCCH, I have met some amazing co-workers who have helped me when I was at a very difficult time in my life. These people have definitely grown into my family that I will forever cherish.
What do you love the most about working here?
It is difficult to pinpoint just one reason why I love working at DCCH. I started this job during my first year of college and I was very confused about what I wanted to major in and what I wanted to do with my life in in the future. Within the first couple of months in the job, I quickly realized that helping these kids who have been through so much at such young ages is what I am meant to do. I quickly decided to declare my major in social work and have loved it ever since. The best part about this job is being able to watch these kids grow so much in their time with us. It is heartwarming to watch a child discharge to a positive environment after helping them get to that goal.
What is your biggest challenge in this job?
My biggest fear in the role is that I will let the kids down. As humans we all make mistakes and may not always say or do the right thing when that child may need us to. It’s not always fun and easy. These kiddos have been through things you couldn’t even imagine and sometimes they don’t know how to express the feelings and what they need from staff. But when a child has a moment of struggle and can come out on the other side knowing that staff are still there for them, still care about them, and want them to succeed is a win for these kiddos. This job can be both physically and mentally challenging, but when I finish my shift and walk out with a stack of drawings and letters from these kids saying how much I have helped them and how much they care about me, makes even the most challenging days worth it!