My Experience at Transitions

               I started my journey of career development at Transitions as a college student who was lucky enough to receive this internship opportunity. I had no idea what kind of career in social work I wanted, and I also had no experience with working in a crisis center. Of course, there were lots of things to learn as is with basically any job out there, but the skills I learned here will last me a lifetime. Not only have I found an appreciation for the work itself, but I also have a tremendous appreciation for the team of people here. Even though Transitions has different locations in the tri-county area, all departments would come together once a week for staff meetings, and I could feel the bond and passions of each person just by what they had to bring to the table.

               Working in a crisis center can be challenging and exhausting. I had to learn more about self-care to be able to come into work and be up for the challenge every day. Some examples of self-care that I found very helpful were drinking green tea and taking baths when I got home. Taking care of yourself is essential in order to be able to help others. Just one of the many lessons I have learned from working here. Once I started taking care of myself better, this line of work became a lot less stressful and on most days has been enjoyable. I have met so many individuals and families by working in the shelter, most of which I could never forget. Transitions offers a strong sense of community and safety that allows people to flourish in their quest for autonomy.

               One of the events that I will never forget was the Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes event. I got to see the community come together to spread awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault. Volunteering at this community outreach event was a lot of fun and I got to meet new people. I got to see a brighter side of our community, especially from the men who participated in the walk who wore the high heels. I felt grateful to be able to help out and be surrounded by such caring people. This is just one of the ways that Transitions has taught me about learning to stand up for what I believe in. Seeing how everybody contributed to such an organized event was inspiring and gave me a new understanding of how to make things happen.

               When I first started working here, I was not excited about working with children at all. I was never around kids growing up and as time went on I decided that I never really wanted to be. The experience of working with kids was uncomfortable for me at first, and I would try to avoid it at all costs, but working at the shelter helped me overcome that. Before I knew it, I was comfortable enough to help out with our Care for Kids workshop. This was a big test for me of course, because I knew I would be providing childcare for multiple kids at one time. The experience was definitely challenging, but I learned that children are not as bad as I used to think they were. I actually enjoyed helping and getting to know the kids.

               Transitions is an agency full of warriors. If I wasn’t already planning on relocating, I would definitely stay here and continue my growth as a counselor/advocate. I feel as though I am a better person now than I was before I started working here. I will always appreciate the lessons I have learned here and the people I have met. I am truly lucky for stumbling upon this team of amazing individuals. 

Written by: Kristin G., Intern