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Staff Stories
Anne
The first days at Wediko are overwhelming for all staff members and in particular for those in their first summer of work. It is akin, in many ways, to a college orientation. People are eager to please, to impress, to feel settled, and to take in all that the new environment has to offer. Anne’s first days at Wediko were accompanied by the self doubt that so many have experienced before her -- I don’t fit in here. I’m not sure I can help these children. What did I get myself into? In supervisions, prior to the children’s arrival, Anne stated that in groups, she tends to follow norms and rarely asserts herself as a leader. She articulated her apprehension about working with older adolescents.
By the end of week one, Anne seemed like a different person. There was a confidence and sensitivity to the way that she approached children and she quickly emerged as a clinical leader on the team. She became a master at noticing when children were disengaged or left out. One girl constantly withdrew, lying in her bed when she felt bad about herself. Anne always noticed her, pulled her into the group, soothed her, and made her laugh. She made these kinds of interventions look easy, when in reality they take finesse, patience, and skill.
The staff noticed Anne’s successes. They saw her as someone with a strong voice, who could relate to the quieter team members as well as to the most outgoing. They saw her as someone who represented how much a person can grow clinically and personally if they allow themselves to take risks. Working at Wediko allowed her to push the boundaries of what she thought she could accomplish and she completed the summer ready to pursue further work and study with young people at risk.
Will
Will arrived at the Wediko NH Summer Program directly after his senior year in college. He was interviewed by a former Wediko staff member on the West Coast who was impressed by his ability to be thoughtful and honest about the impact of difficult experiences in his own life. As the oldest child in a family who sought political asylum in this country, Will had a deep appreciation for opportunities which many Americans often take for granted. His sincerity was palpable; his commitment to help at-risk children was impressive – Wediko was delighted to offer William a job for summer 2003.
At first, Will was quiet and somewhat reserved at Wediko. He was most comfortable in a “learning role,” and he was careful to follow the lead of more experienced staff. When Will spoke, everyone on his clinical team listened. One of the major themes in supervision with Will was encouraging him to take more risks, feel okay about mistakes, and make errors of commission rather than omission. Watching his growth in summer 2003 was a source of joy for his supervisor and other senior staff at Wediko.
In late August, Will decided to move to Boston where he was hired as a para-professional in a specialized setting within the Boston Public Schools. His work in this role was always thorough and conscientious, the only regret was that he sometimes kept his observations to himself rather than speaking out in team supervision meetings.