Yesterday marked my last day as Director of Social Services for a local tri-county agency, a position I’ve held for close to two years. To be honest, I didn’t really see myself transitioning into a new job any time soon. With recently finishing the requirements necessary to apply for my full licensure in Social Work, I knew I’d start looking again once I had that LMSW in hand, but I never anticipated things happening the way they did over the past three weeks.
The organization I work for comprises many different levels – local, divisional, territorial, national, and international. Working on the local level means that I communicate with the divisional level frequently as they oversee the system in which we work day-in and day-out. It was while participating in an action planning meeting one Friday with a woman from our Divisional Headquarters that I was presented with the opportunity to apply for an advanced position: “Hannah, if you’re interested, there’s a position available at DHQ that I think you’d really be great in. Take a look and send me your resume if you think this is something you might want to do.”
I checked out the positing online, thought about the position over the weekend, talked it over with my husband, prayed about it, and decided, “Why not? Just because I apply doesn’t mean I’m going to get the job. It’s always good to put yourself out there and get the interview experience. And it never hurts to just apply and see what happens.”
Little did I know this one decision would change the course of everything within a week’s time …
I sent my resume in the Monday following the Friday meeting. I interviewed the following Monday and was told, “You are the best candidate for this job. Expect a formal offer to come by email tomorrow.” Tuesday afternoon came around, and with it, an offer I couldn’t refuse: In addition to an increase in pay, I would be able to develop in my consultant / leadership / management / teaching skills, working from home and traveling to various social services sites (at the local level) to assist with the roll-out of case management programming, all expenses paid.
Dream. Come. True.
For the longest time, I have wanted to be in a position where I work from home, have the ability to travel, and assist others in becoming the best they can be. I have longed for this and prayed for an opportunity like this to come my way. But I never thought it would look like this, nor so soon. I’m still in shock over how this has all worked out. And all I can say is, “Only God. Only He could bring this to pass.”
With the offer, came official resignation from my role as Director and spending the last two plus weeks terminating my work there, informing the community of the change, preparing my staff for transition, and the new Director for his/her future responsibilities.
Because I have not yet started the job, I don’t know all that is to come with this role, but I am SO EXCITED for this new adventure to begin! Sure there will be good and bad days, easy and hard times, but such is life. I know this is an answer to prayer, and I feel honored that our Divisional Headquarters recognized the work I’ve done as a Director and felt confident to hire me for this new role as a Regional Coordinator.
I also feel incredibly grateful for all the education and work experience I’ve had leading up to this moment. Everything I’ve done since graduate school has inched me forward to being able to have an opportunity like this. I’ve grown and learned so much from each position, every boss, my fellow employees, and the clients / community I serve. Social Work is not the most glamorous, high-paying, or easy profession, but it’s one that I take great pride in and one that continues to surprise me time and time again.
So with that, I move forward and walk through this door God has so graciously opened for me, looking forward to all that He will do in and through me in this new role. I trust Him to provide for me, making me the best professional I can be in this position, and to continue to do the amazing work that only He can do!
And I thank Him, again, for this dream come true – this chance to do something I have had visions of for such a long period of time that I lifted it up to God day-after-day asking Him to bring it to pass in His will and His way. And just like that, He did.
He is the giver of dreams fulfilled. He is good. SO. GOOD.