5-22-08- I figure since I am starting a new chapter in my practicum that I should sum up my experience thus far, then come back every week and reflect on my experience as I am supposed to. Just to avoid confusion, if I discuss people at my practicum I will make up an initial for each person to refer to them by.
So when I first began my practicum I wasn’t scared as most other students were, nor was I worried if I would do alright. I was, however, apprehensive as to whether I would have a good experience, or whether I would learn enough or what I needed at Cummins. I was confident in my interactions with my clients, but I was not sure how I would be perceived by my supervisor or coworkers.
The first week I felt more like a guest than an employee, where I participated in the consumer activities like bingo. I quickly began to build relationships with the consumers, careful to make sure they saw me as an employee/intern rather than a friend. I think this has been one of my biggest challenges in the field as I am used to always befriending everyone I meet. I definitely learned the difference between the role of a social worker and a friend.
I felt like an assistant, where I just followed my supervisor, Amanda, around, doing little things and running canteen. Over time I learned how she did paperwork, and procedures that were used for different situations. There was a daily schedule of activities that we always followed because if we deterred even a little the consumers were quick to remind us what we were supposed to be doing. I knew they came to Hoosier House to have structure during their day, but I did not realize how much they depended on that same structure.
It was not until Amanda had surgery and was off for two weeks that I really stepped up and became more productive. Pam, a case manager, was in charge during this time, but usually had me run things so she could work on her cases. During that time I began filling out the morning paperwork, and was in charge of making sure everyone completed it. I always ran canteen every time it was open, and I began making lunch every day for the consumers. Although I was provided the materials and activities for group, I actually ran group every day.
I saw the difference in how my role changed during those two weeks, and I saw the difference in how the consumers saw me. At first I was just the intern, a helper, but then I turned into a leader, the group supervisor. They looked up to me, and came to me for things.
I also was able to start telling the difference between the consumers’ regular actions and behaviors, and those that were a result of their illnesses or disorders. I was learning what severe mental illness each person had based on their actions and behaviors, and I could tell when someone’s behavior was a result of their disorder. I began learning more about mental illnesses, and all the different presenting symptoms they have.
Once Amanda came back I actually felt awkward because I was not sure how to be. Before she left I was just a helper, but while she was gone I became the leader. When she was around I was used to just following her direction, but by then I was used to taking charge and running everything. We soon got back in a groove where I still ran things, and she just gave me the paperwork for the activities.
In all this time I saw myself become a practicing social worker. I was in situations that seemed oddly familiar, then realized it was because I already learned what to do from my coursework. I remember learning about identifying a consumer's goals and objectives in S231, but I just thought it was part of procedure and I would not use it in my real practice. However, while working with a case manager at Cummins I found out they use this exact system with their clients. The paperwork I fill out every morning for them identifies the goal and objective that each consumer is working on while at Hoosier House.
There have been so many individual situations I have experienced at Cummins that have just reinforced my learning at IUPUI. So far, this practicum has been a valuable learning experience, and I look forward to learning even more in the coming weeks.
