Support
It's been a considerable length of time since my last post, and to be a bit on the abrupt side, things are going to change, one way or the other. I'm not going to get into the details, but suffice to say the next few weeks on site are going to be uncertain, potentially stressful, and trying. Brief disclaimer: I am fine, by the way. As I contemplated the best-case-scenario and the worst-case-scenario of these circumstances that will no doubt unfold at some point, I kept going back to one thing: the fact that yes, even though I have not been doing this gig for that long, something I have noticed is that we are fiercely supportive of one another.
This aforementioned realization made me...well, realize, that this type of support and care for myself and for my team is something that I truly need in my workplace, as an employee, in order to thrive and be successful. Now, please don't misunderstand me; I have worked quite a few jobs in my short years, and I have worked with some of the most incredible, inspirational, and supportive people. You know who you are. But I didn't realize what I needed until I realized I wasn't getting it, much nearly to the extent that I've noticed now at Grow. I'll say it again: I haven't gone without. It's almost like what I've received and witnessed now is excess. Which is not a bad thing. I think I'm trying to make this make sense, and I'm probably failing at it.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am grateful. I am grateful that I work for people who have my back, and who are not shy in extending their encouragement and support to myself and my other VISTA cohorts. It's refreshing, honestly. I don't have to worry about stepping on toes or crossing lines. My supervisors are approachable, and they don't relent in letting me know that they are there for me. I don't know if this is because my department is small, or if it's because I work at Berea College, where everyone tends to look out for one another; I don't know. I hope, though, that someday I can be half the support and encouragement that's been so generously extended to me and my co-workers. It sounds so arbitrary, but it really does make all the difference in the world.
Last week, I was battling a cold (still am, but it's mostly gone), and I was feeling especially lousy on that Monday. Armed with tea laced with honey and a box of tissues at my side, I was ready to get the day going. One of my supervisors said I could take the day off if I was sick. I didn't. My reply was: "No, I don't want to. Because if I go home, I'll just sit and mope. Being here helps. You all help me feel better." I meant it. Yeah, we laugh a lot, we are just downright ridiculous sometimes, but when it's all said and done, we look out for each other. and that's worth going to work sick for.
This aforementioned realization made me...well, realize, that this type of support and care for myself and for my team is something that I truly need in my workplace, as an employee, in order to thrive and be successful. Now, please don't misunderstand me; I have worked quite a few jobs in my short years, and I have worked with some of the most incredible, inspirational, and supportive people. You know who you are. But I didn't realize what I needed until I realized I wasn't getting it, much nearly to the extent that I've noticed now at Grow. I'll say it again: I haven't gone without. It's almost like what I've received and witnessed now is excess. Which is not a bad thing. I think I'm trying to make this make sense, and I'm probably failing at it.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am grateful. I am grateful that I work for people who have my back, and who are not shy in extending their encouragement and support to myself and my other VISTA cohorts. It's refreshing, honestly. I don't have to worry about stepping on toes or crossing lines. My supervisors are approachable, and they don't relent in letting me know that they are there for me. I don't know if this is because my department is small, or if it's because I work at Berea College, where everyone tends to look out for one another; I don't know. I hope, though, that someday I can be half the support and encouragement that's been so generously extended to me and my co-workers. It sounds so arbitrary, but it really does make all the difference in the world.
Last week, I was battling a cold (still am, but it's mostly gone), and I was feeling especially lousy on that Monday. Armed with tea laced with honey and a box of tissues at my side, I was ready to get the day going. One of my supervisors said I could take the day off if I was sick. I didn't. My reply was: "No, I don't want to. Because if I go home, I'll just sit and mope. Being here helps. You all help me feel better." I meant it. Yeah, we laugh a lot, we are just downright ridiculous sometimes, but when it's all said and done, we look out for each other. and that's worth going to work sick for.
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