Employment!!!

BEWARE OF EXTRA LONG POST

Yes, it's true. I got a job! An actual, adult, full-time, real world, get-up-early-every-morning and actually receive compensation for my work kind of job!!! But before I tell all about it, I want to give some explanation about the crazy journey that has led me here. So here goes...

After graduating from ACU, Brandon and I made the difficult decision to move to Dallas. It was just the perfect situation for us at the time. UT Dallas had a great program for me, and Brandon found a wonderful job. And we could still be kinda close to some of our ACU friends. It ended up being so good for us. I lived with the Codara's until Brandon and I got married, which ended up being such a blessing. I had great grad school friends who I could not have survived without, and Brandon and I became members at Prestoncrest Church of Christ. We prayed for some couple friends, and through our church group we have met some of the best friends we could have ever asked for.

But the 'plan' was always to go back to Nashville. We always just assumed that we'd move back as soon as we could. But my graduation kept getting closer and closer and we got more and more used to the idea of staying here. Brandon is loving his job. The economy is so bad right now, and jobs in Nashville are very hard to find. But most of all, we love the people that God has put in our lives here.

After lots of job searching in Nashville and Dallas, everything fell into place. I knew I wanted to do speech therapy for adults. In a hospital, rehab facility, private practice, skilled nursing facility, whatever. Since being in grad school, that's just really where my heart has been. I love helping adults regain the skills they need to communicate and swallow effectively. Often the speech pathologist is the only one who has time to just sit and talk with someone in those settings, and sometimes being the one who will listen to them is actually a really important part of the job. I know that I want how much I've appreciated the kind faces who have treated my grandparents with respect when they're in the hospital or rehab facility. I so look forward to being that person that patients can talk to.

So anyways, after several interviews that didn't really excite me, I was shocked to get a phone call about a place I hadn't even heard of before. I met someone from the company at the TSHA conference in April, when I really hadn't even started searching yet. We set up an interview and kept hearing really good things about the facility. After the interview, I was really excited about it. But I was really afraid that I wouldn't get it and I'd have to settle for job that I could just make it through my first year (My first year is considered a CFY- Clinical Fellowship Year- where we are supervised by an experienced SLP. After that first year- or technically, 9 months- I'll get my certification.)

It's called Treemont Healthcare and Rehab Center, near the Tollway and 635. It's also a nursing home with assisted living, but I'll be working in the Healthcare Center, which is technically considered a skilled nursing facility. I'll work primarily with patients who have come from the hospital, but still need skilled care and rehab care before going home. Of course, there will also be some that stay there more long term. But the patients just seem happy. Everyone seems nice and you don't get that nursing home feel when you walk in the door. I had been really questioning whether I would want to work in a skilled nursing setting because I don't want to come home every day being depressed and emotional because of my job. This one was not like that. So, after thinking it over and talking to Brandon, my parents, and some great supervisors, I accepted the job! And I am really excited about having a good supervisor and being in a place I can really enjoy.

After I graduate, I'll have at least a month off before I start while all the licensure paperwork gets processed. We're going on family vacation the first week in June, then I'll start later that month. I just feel like God totally led me to the right place. I was really feeling so uneasy and unsure about where I'd end up. It's been such a journey, but I feel a real peace about staying in Dallas and working at Treemont. I am excited about this new start, and I am very ready to have a relaxing month before real life and early mornings begin.



And we're excited to still call Dallas our home.
Sorry I went on for so long, but thaaaat's all, folks!
Sara