Future Plans
Two years:
As a stipend student, I will have to work for the state of Tennessee for at least a year and half. My two-year plan includes serving as an Investigative Team Leader over the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in the child protective services division over Tennessee Valley, East, and Upper Cumberland Regions. SIU covers investigations that involve allegations of child abuse and neglect against individuals that are in a position of authority over a child that they are not directly related. In this role, I will continue to supervise my team and ensure best practices are utilized when working with children and families.
Five years:
Over the next five years I plan to get my LCSW, and gain experience working at a counseling clinic or in a clinical setting.
Ten years:
In ten years, I would love to continue my career at DCS and promote in leadership. If God allows, after a 30 year career with DCS, I would love to either become a therapist or join the VA and work with Veterans.
Holistic Self Care Plan
Physical (eating, exercise, etc.)
Since the beginning of this year, I have made the first step in trying to get more physically healthy by cutting out soft drinks and any other carbonated drinks as well as enrolling in to a gym program through my health insurance. I have started drinking tea and am working on scheduling time to go to the gym.
Emotional (inner peace, etc.)
I pray every night before I go to sleep which I thank God for another day and ask for guidance in whatever issue I had that day. I take time the next morning to gather my thoughts and to remember this a new day and try to be positive. If I start to have an existential crisis, I take a shower and continue on with my morning routine.
Spiritual
I pray every night before I go to sleep which I thank God for another day and ask for guidance in whatever issue I had that day. I take time the next morning to gather my thoughts and to remember this a new day and try to be positive.
Social
I have a standing date night with one of my best friends on Thursdays. I also have a weekend every month that I spend time with one of my long distance best friends. I engage in social media and facetime with friends that are far away or have busy schedules. It helps me to engage with them when I’m not feeling my best.
Sensory (engage the senses: music, art, play dough, crafting, etc.
When I’m making tea or coffee (espresso), I enjoy the smells as well as the time to make something I enjoy. I also enjoy taking long drives through the country side and having my music on full blast. Sometimes I drive in silence after a long day, and that can also be therapeutic for me to reach a zen place.
Mental/mastery(Learning, anagrams, crosswords, sudoku, mysteries, etc.
I do school work as well as play Words with Friends. I enjoy reading about new advances in technology and medicine.