Y’all. I survived my first week of grad school!! When I graduated with my BSW in 2020 I knew I wanted to take some time before going back for my MSW. Partly because I was just fed up with the rigidity of school and also because I knew I needed some growth to really start to know where my passions and skills fit best. I took a job at Bear River Mental Health in Logan and was able to use my learned skills in real time. I also learned so many things about social work, society and myself in that time. Leaving there was a hard choice, it was a great job, with great people. When the opportunity came to move to Hawaii I searched for many formal social work jobs and ultimately ended up taking a nanny job. Where I like to say I use many social work skills and lessons informally for these children. After nannying for a year and having some extra time to grow into my most authentic self, I knew it was time to get back to school. Not necessarily that I was really wanting to go to school, but that I knew it was the next stage in my progression. I am both excited and nervous to take on this degree and the opportunities that will follow. I’m doing my best to be present and happy in this life and my goal is to be able to help others do the same by the end of this degree. So all that being said, cheers to new beginnings and my last first week of school!