I graduated this year from Hamline University with my Bachelor’s in Public Health. I have been with Partnerships for Permanence (P4P) for [almost two] years now. I heard about P4P as a student participating in their leadership program, Leaders Changing the System (LCS) last year. Afterwards, I took an internship with P4P as a Program Coordinator for three months. I am currently a Youth Consultant and a Member of the Mentoring Program. A lesson I learned about myself is that, not everyone is rooting for you. Our biggest supporter should be ourselves. The more we believe in our vision the more they will become reality.
I joined LCS because I wanted to gain more leadership skills and learn more about the child welfare system. I continue to stay in P4P because I want to continue to advocate for child welfare and love the teamwork and support P4P provides. What I have learned throughout my time here is how important it is to communicate with each other and be on the same page. For example, the listening session we had on how to redesign case management was successful. This was because we were able to have many meetings and discuss our ideas and suggestions. Being able to communicate with each other gives us more clarity in the direction of how the event will turn out.
A topic that I strongly believe in is, having a strong support system, because a support system helps us better cope in situations we face in life. A friend to rely on when times get tough. A friend to help you overcome obstacles, and a friend who is willing to listen to your story and understand where you come from without any judgement. Having someone to comfort and encourage you can make life a lot better. My future goals is to become a social worker and lead a life that inspires others. Others can help me achieve my leadership goals by rooting for me and being able to give me advice when needed.
Written by: Lisa
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