Week 2

I completed another week here at CLH.  It had its ups and downs, but was overall a good week.  On Wednesday I met with the director.  He's the "big boss" and the one who is friends with the professor who got me here. Well, after sitting down and saying hellos, he asked me, "so what do you have for me, why are you here?" As in why I'm in Maryland working for him.  I was stunned, I figured he would be the one giving me direction, not the other way around. So I explained to him why I came, what I want to do, and what I hope to get out of working at CLH.  I described the facility I hope to have one day for adolescents, and he was less than helpful.  He basically said he doesn't know how I can do that or even what I would need to start something like that.  But he said he would ask around and see if there's anyone I can talk with who can help. 

So I left the meeting feeling very discouraged. Before talking with him, I was already feeling like I wasn't needed here and wasn't sure exactly why I was here.  And after the meeting, I really was doubting us being here.  But I prayed about it on my way home and God reminded me that he brought us here and there is a reason. 

On Thursday, I was less than motivated to come in, but I put on a happy face and walked through the door.  I'm glad I did.  Thursdays are not typically busy days, but for some reason this one was.  We had a new participant start, so I read him all the instructions and got him set up with his computer.  I got to collect a urine sample, sounds gross but it's still kinda cool.  Then I met with my supervisor for our first official supervision meeting.  I was going to tell him how I've been feeling and that I need more to do.  But before I could, he started saying how glad everyone is that I'm here and how big of a help I've been.  That they really appreciate everything I've done so far and look forward to what else I have to offer.  Then said that he wants me to move on to the lab and start working in there more.  And once I'm done with that, then I can move on to Outreach.  And he gave me a project that I'll be starting in a few weeks.  Then said if I ever feel like I have nothing to do or ready for something new to come to him.  So without me saying a word, he addressed all of my concerns and reassured me I do have a place here. 

So what did I learn this week: My supervisor is won't be someone who can help me figure out where to go next, but he will be a big help while I'm here.  He's going to be able to direct me where to go and what I can do to get my hours in. The director will not be much help directly, but he does know a lot of people and can give me a nice recommendation letter when I leave.  Which by the way, he did email one of his friends who I'm going to meet with on Friday. I also was reminded this is where we need to be right now, and although it's not exactly how I pictured, it's going to work out in our favor because God has His hands on this.