Now that I am a few months into my job, I feel like I can answer the question, “how’s the job?” a little bit better. This is a question that I have been getting a lot and especially from my family. The honest answer is I am much more afraid about burning out. Not that I didn’t think it was a risk, I am just realizing that it is a much greater risk and I am nervous about how to deal with it.
So I have been telling people – again, mostly my family – this response. Now, the only thing that I am really looking for is some validation: “Wow, that must be scary.” “That sounds tough.” etc. However, what I have been getting has been (mostly from my mother): “Well, what did you expect?” “You knew this going in.” “This is what you wanted.” and “Yep, social workers burn out fast.” Is this an indication of understanding that I can expect from the people around me???