Incredibly Rewarding Work

When I began my internship at Taller de José, I had limited experience working directly with clients. Most of my knowledge was based on what I had learned in school. However, reading about social work can’t fully prepare you for what it’s like to experience client interactions face to face. I’ve experienced some challenges along the way and still have so much more to learn, but I have found the work I do here to be incredibly rewarding. When thinking back to the cases that stand out most, I thought about a client who came in asking for help with any resources we might have available as she had recently arrived in the U.S. I was able to get started on helping her with things like food and health insurance. I also referred her to legal services as this was something she also needed. By the time the appointment was over, she expressed her gratitude for my help and mentioned that she hadn’t been as successful at finding these resources on her own. She had explained these difficulties to a friend, who then recommended Taller de José. Her friend shared that she had been here before and had nothing but good things to say about our staff. I told her I was glad to hear this positive review and happy I was able to help her with what she needed. I felt so proud not just to be a part of an organization with such a great reputation but also privileged to be working alongside fellow staff who also care deeply about the people in the neighborhood that they serve.