Piggy, you know that you are indeed affecting most everyone that comes into your office, don't you?? This is just some sort of pitty trip, right? I mean, most everyone in western society is motivated by the need for attention. The folks that you get to see are people that don't get much of that anywhere else. I know more than a couple of kids that have moved on and become successful people due to the time a socialworker invested in them.

The sad thing is that most people when they're being bumped around by the system are too ashamed or scared of what's going on to stop and note when someone is genuinely trying to help them. It's not until much later when they've taken your advice to heart, or followed the leads you've provided - and embraced change in thier lives as an independent decision - that the real results of your investment become appearant. So chances are, you won't see the one that 'makes it' and they won't even remember your name...But you didn't get into this for glory, did you?

That said, I know the reality is that for every success case, there are a hundred lost. But you can't help everyone. It's just not possible. The beauty comes from that one, and you can't forget that. I used to work for an outreach program, where most of the kids just came to hang out and play games. They really couldn't care less aboout getting off the streets. There was this one girl though, who over the course of three and a half years, I got to watch climb from being a homeless streetworker who hated herself (and pretty much everyone else, really) to getting a job and an apartment and really flowereing. Last I saw her, she was working towards getting her highschool equivalency and acceptance into university...She was taking over some of the counseling duties at the center when I left. I guess I was lucky, in that I was allowed to witness that, but I know from keeping in touch with folks back home that she was by no means unique.

So yeah, this ends my little speach. Piggy, just try not to forget why you are where you are. I mean, no one changes for you, they never will. The real change comes when something you've said or done triggers later on. Just remeber that for all the fun the rest of the population has tearing society apart at the seams, it takes people like you to keep folks from falling through the holes. If in your entire career, one person lets themselves be helped or re-directed, then you've met your quota.

Smile damnit! [biiiig grin]