Day -4: First Contact

Note to self: Fate can be capricious

In my third year of University the social work faculty hosted a group of men who had just moved into a new building on Jarvis Street. Renovated into a sort of late 20th Century version of the rooming house, the project was all the rage in its day. I remember watching these five guys talking about their lives on the street and thinking to myself that never, under any circumstances, would I work with such a rough and tumble group of clients.

My first year social work practice instructor was Prof. George Bielmeyer, an amazing man who was an inspiration to an entire generation of social work students. Early in our education George gave us two pieces of advice that have stood the test of time:

1) "Social Workers thrive on coffee and cigarettes. Let's face it, you'll never be paid well enough to eat on a regular basis"

2) "Never say you won't do something, you never know where this career will take you"

George told us a story of making a vow in school that he would never work with violent men. Shortly afterwards he got his first job at Seaton House Men's Hostel. Like many of the important lessons I have learned, it took getting burned to learn this one as well.