“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Twenty-three years ago I made a phone call that would change my life.

It was the end of the school year and I was in my second year of graduate school on my way to earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work.  It was time to find a field placement, a place to gain some hands-on experience in my new profession-to-be.  I was young, inexperienced and married less than a year.  I sat at the round marble table in our small rented house, staring at a handful of numbers scrawled on a piece of paper.  It was a list of social service agencies for me to call.

I wasn’t sure what to say, exactly.  “Uh, hullo?” I’m sure I began as I fumbled through those first awkward seconds, “I’m a second year social work student and I’m looking for a place to do a summer field placement.”  Who was I kidding? I mean, I’ll understand if you say no. I’m young and inexperienced and after all, I don’t really know anything. I wouldn’t take me if I were you.

“Sure,” came the voice from the other end of the phone.

“Sure?” I repeated.  Perhaps I misheard you.  Sure?

“Sure,” the cheerful voice said again.  “We’d be thrilled to have you join us for the summer.”

And so it began.  Just like that.  A simple phone call that began a journey that has continued for 23 years.

I packed the silver Honda Accord hatchback and moved in with a couple of girlfriends for the summer and began my internship at Catholic Charities of Marin, working for a clinical supervisor who would teach me many valuable lessons about the field of social work; about kindness and compassion and caring, about helping others to help themselves and what it meant to be part of a professional community.

But she taught me so much more than that.

Once a week we sat in her corner office filled with photographs and beadwork and gifts from the earth.  Pine cones and shells and feathers.  Symbols of her Native American heritage.  We talked about the work of course, but we also talked about so much more.  She taught me life lessons: of community and partnership and balance.  She became my mentor, my teacher and my coach.   She was my rock, holding firm  as I stumbled my way along this brand new path.  And through it all, a deep friendship was formed.

At summer’s end she hired me and I worked for her for 10 wonderful years before circumstances took us our separate ways.  A few years ago, I jumped at the chance to partner with her once more.

Last fall I began another professional journey with ten social work students embarking on their own first field placements.  As we sat in the room on that first fall afternoon, I couldn’t help but think back to my own journey all those years ago.  This was going to be fun, I thought.  They would face new challenges, stretch themselves in ways they could not yet imagine and learn about this profession they would soon call their own.

And through it all, I got to bear witness.

It has been an amazing ride.  They have stretched and twisted and turned in ways they could not predict.  They have opened their hearts and learned the fine art of helping by empowering others to help themselves.  They have challenged their thinking, reflected on perceptions and expanded their way of being in this world.  They have held the hope that things can be different.  That change can occur.

They are kind and compassionate and caring and together we have formed a professional community.  And I couldn’t be prouder of them.

So this is for you.  Keri, Regina and Kristine.  Burt, Sylvia, Calla and Jill.  David and Loreen and Ashley.  This is for you.  You will go on from here.  Like the path I began so many years ago, you will find your way through this most wonderful profession we call social work.  You will meet people who will touch your hearts.  You will think thoughts that will surprise you.  You will laugh and cry and wonder.

And I have no doubt you will move mountains.

Twenty-three years from now, perhaps you will have the chance that I have had, to walk side by side with people who are just beginning to find their way.  And when you do, I hope you too will look back and remember.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

It has been a pleasure walking with you.