Here I stand...Update

WHAT'S HAPPENING!

1. Job Promotion: From frontline to MANAGEMENT
In November 2012 I was promoted from Residential Counselor III to Program Director! What a blessing! I was beginning to get bored with the RC position and was searching for other outlets. I had already applied for one PD position and did not get it.  I was discouraged but I continued to search for jobs the would challenge me. When another Program Director position opened up I was asked  to apply. As you can already guess I got the position!!!  Day in and day out I am caring for individuals who psychiatric disabilities impair them to the point where they can not care for themselves. This position has definitely challenged me and it can be stressful at times but I would not change it for the world. 

2. Student life: I have to teach myself to learn again!!
On September 19, 2014 I was accepted to SocialWork@Simmons. This is a Master's degree program at Simmons College and everything is online! I chose to go this route for my MSW because it is more convenient to my busy work schedule. I am super excited to start in November!


Follow me on my new blog: SocialWork@Simmons...a journey in itself.  http://sswmsw2017.blogspot.com/

Y.O.L.O.??

I saw a post on Facebook the other day and it really got me thinking like "Damn that's true".  It said something to the effect of it not being true because you live everyday and die only once.The song where this term stems from is pretty catchy and the beat is HOT. However everyday we wake up we are given another chance to live. Which is a gift in itself. I charge to you (who ever is reading this) to tweak the statement Y.O.L.O into having a deeper meaning than acting a damn fool and not caring about your actions. I am not knocking those whom are "free spirits" and are risk takers, but lets be smart about the decisions we make day to day  and think about not only the present but the future as well.

What is your five year plan?

I asked my self the same question 5 years ago. Where did I see myself? What did I want to be doing with my life? Well I made it to the 5 year mark. It was on this day 5 years ago where I was transitioning from an undergrad to a real world adult. The real world was fresh new exciting what was I to do. Well first I thought I have a new degree I need a job. Needless to say I could not just snap my fingers and BAM the perfect job. I had to work at it. I needed a plan. Well luckily for me I had a summer job set up and it would be the perfect transition.I was also preparing for my trip to JAMAICA at the end of the summer. My best friend was also preparing for her first child so I would be traveling to Brooklyn NEW YORK to help her get last minute things ready. I had a lot going on.  My career path was had been chosen. There was no question as to what I could do with my degree. With a Bachelor's in Social Work I set out my search to be just that a social worker.
 Well no one ever told me that things do not go as planned, or maybe they did and I did not listen and I had to find out on my own. I was atypically college graduate and I thought I would get a job right away. While I was in school I would see several job postings for BSW graduates so I was in there right?? Wrong well wouldn't you know that the job market in Atlanta and Boston is so different. I needed my Master's Degree or more experience. Tell me how am I going to get more experience if you are not willing to hire me! I did work during the summer and I figured I could relax and not look for a job right away because I had it in the bag.
The summer ended I had been the graduation parties had ended and trips were over. It had just gotten real. I needed a purpose. All my life I had been in school never really work except a few summer gigs. School had always been my purpose. I had be warned but I did not listen. I have learned over the years that you can tell someone something until you are blue in the face whether it be mistakes you've made or lessons to be learned. It won't matter because that person needs to experience life on their own and find a way to make them happy.
This was me 110%. I know what I want to do and the steps I need to take to achieve them. I was now officially an adult. Legally I was an adult at the age of 18. I went away to college but I was sheltered. I was on my own because I was 1000 miles away from home but that college life will get you and trick you into believing that you are on your own. In some cases this is true, in terms of my life I got comfortable and used to the school thing and did not realized that I had to choose my own destiny and every aspect of my life was my decision to make.

Here I am five years later from when I first asked myself the question of  WHERE DO I SEE MYSELF IN FIVE YEARS? It certainly was not where I am now. I am not saying I am doing bad for myself. I just had a false sense of reality and did realize the effort that needed to be put into the things I wanted. I am blessed to say that I have a full-time job, on the path to management family life is okay. But I am alive! I have a plan and there may be some bumps in the road but guess what I am fully prepared! So I charge this question to you: Is your 5 year plan still in effect?

My Favorite Poem

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me. 

Maya Angelou

The reason I am the way I am: All about a Taurus:

"XSTROLOGY: #Taurus can be mysterious; you don't always know what is going on inside their minds"

When you come across a Taurus female, the first thing you will notice about her is her undefeatable emotional strength. She is capable of handling the severest of problems, without shedding even a single tear. She has the infamous Taurus temper, but it is seldom displayed. Atleast not until the provocation is too much to digest. She is as feminine as any other female, without the unnecessary tantrums. A Taurus woman has no desire of dominating her husband. She will let him handle the reins, infact this is what she secretly desires.

A Taurus woman wants a real man, who can make her proud of himself as much as she is proud of herself. However, if he fails in his role, she will take the control in her own hands. Neither will she act like a mewing kitten, nor like a roaring lioness. She is independent and has a mind of her own, but she does not want to dominate in the relationship. Taurean women do not see social status while making their friends. They want to be friends with people who do not hide their true nature and come across as they really are.

Beauty

Ruling planet Venus bestows beauty and the thorough enjoyment of all five senses upon Taurus. The ascetics of life are not lost on this sign, and many of the things they do in life are guided by the principle of beauty.
Because of this, Taurus is a highly sensual sign, one that values the decadence of a double-layered chocolate cake, revels in the fragrance of expensive colognes and perfumes, and delights in the feel of cashmere lined gloves. If it feels good against the skin, goes down smoothly past the lips, and pleasantly pleases the palette, Taurus will love it!
This love of beauty can also be Taurus's downfall. One particular Taurus personality trait it that of over-indulgence. Feeling sick to the stomach or carrying around an extra five pounds is not unheard for Taurus. As such, Taurus needs to learn and practice moderation in all things.

Taurus and Friendship:

A Taurus is an excellent friend. Taurus has few close friends as opposed to many acquaintances. The few people they hold dear to them are guarded and protected. Their friends are treated like family and they are fiercely loyal and dependable. Taurus loves to be the host or hostess. Although not a total social butterfly, they can be shy around strangers, the people who Taurus let into their lives are lavishly catered to when Taurus decides to throw a party, they decorate and present everything lavishly. Taurus will always pamper themselves and their close group of friends

What it's like to date a Taurus Woman: (in case you were wondering)

Taurus women are masters in the art of seduction. She will get what she wants but her patience is incredible, she will wait for what she wants She needs stability and security and will not tolerate a man who is not straight with her and leads her along with uncertainty in the future. She is the old-fashioned type, the type of woman who is associated with the drive-in soda shop days of the 60's. She is down to earth, protective, supportive, loving, devoted and loyal. She is openly affectionate in a relationship. Taurus women is perfect for the man who likes to be nurtured and pampered, providing you are loyal and devoted. She has a lot to give but she requires a lot in return. Remember, the Taurus woman is very sensitive although she might not seem so on the exterior. Court her and constantly try to impress her and you will win her heart and she will be yours. Cross a Taurus woman, and her temper will flare, she will become extremely stubborn. If you ever break her trust, it will be nearly impossible to gain it back again.

XSTROLOGY   #Taurus have the best love.

Keep it 100!

Keeping it real-Staying true to yourself, your faith and constantly seeking the truth. You know you are keeping it real when you do not harm yourself or anyone around you physically mentally or spiritually. Not being fake or influenced. Being true to yourself and your values, but more importantly, being true to innate values that all people acknowledge as respectable. Not inhibiting yourself or pretending to be something your not; but also not following dominant values that should not be acceptable.~Urban Dictionary.
If you are not real then are you make believe? One's realness is always being questioned nowadays. Why is that? I still haven't figured out the answer to that question but I will say that you should not have to prove your "realness" to anyone. When getting to know some one's personality you can tell that they have a sense of being true and if you feel that they are fake keep it moving. No harm done. Trying to challenge a person's realness is not worth the time. If you have to ask someone to keep it real then there is already a lack of trust and you should know not the associate with that person.
 Being real to me is being true to yourself and not having to constantly prove that you are real. Yes I keep it real, I am who I am I don't live for anyone but myself. If someone were to challenge that then I say keep it moving if you think I am fake then don't associate with me. Leave me be.
Real people know boundaries and are not intentionally mean or vulgar because that's not real it's ignorance
"If you keep it real with me, I'll keep it real wit you" -Method Man

100% Haterproof

"And I can tell that their hating by the look in their eyes."
I love when people talk about haters. It is so funny to me. Everybody is so focused on having haters and whose hating that people are forgetting about living life.
I heard someone say once that if you don't have haters then you are not succeeding. I disagree with that statement 100 percent. No I am not going to be campaigning for world peace like I am in a beauty pageant but I will say this: People will get a lot more accomplished if they disregard the haters and focus on the task at hand. Haters thrive off of tearing you down and throwing you off track. Pay the haters no mind. Ignore them to the point you are still doing what you need to do to succeed while the haters are sitting there looking stupid.
"There they go again them haters" -The Unit (Queen Latifah)