Gripping the Grass Roots - Laughing Through the Pain

So, here I am.  It's the end of March, and I've been on unemployment since October and paid 24% of my previous pay as a stipend.  I have looked for other jobs and applied.  I've also been continuing to work full time.

I've already established previously that I'm foolish for sticking around at the same job, but I still feel like I need to be able to finish the school year.  At this point in the year, I might as well.

What's been really strange about this most intense and stressful year, is that I've never laughed so much.

Laughing is good for the soul.

Like I've said in previous posts, we're a small team.  In the past when we had two sites, we had about 6 social work interns working with us during the school year.  As a previous intern myself, I know how much their work is counted on and valued.  It was great to feel such a sense of team.

But, having two sites also created a bit of a separation between the groups of interns.  For the most part, however, all the interns have gotten along.  There have been intensely stressful times, and we've been able to get through it for the most part.

This year is different, though.  My boss and I talk about how our team this year has been so different from other teams.  Even though the rest of the organization feels like it's falling apart, the team seems to be stronger than ever.

In the beginning of the school year, they all were getting along really well.  There were some personality differences, but they all seemed to enjoy each others company.  Then, one of the interns left for personal reasons, and a new intern joined the team.  My boss and I were sure that this would signal a change in their relationships.  But we were so wrong.

Now, of course, they get their work done.  In fact, they're all super stars about it.  But somehow there seems to be times when random conversations will get started, and we will just end up laughing.

There are literally days when I feel like I've laughed so hard!  I'm sure people outside of our office think we do absolutely no work.  But we have the paperwork to prove it!

One of the interns has kept a running log of funny quotes, which I believe she plans on distributing copies on their final day.  But we often look back at the quotes (which, I can't seem to remember the ones I've said!) and laugh all over again.

It's truly been a blessing on all sides to have such a positive and hardworking team.  Though they don't necessarily know all that's been happening to the organization, they have really provided a balance for my boss and me.

You'd never think that social work could be so amusing.  On a professional note, I'm sure I haven't been the most professional example for them.  I should probably be more assertive (not that I'm passive), and more distant (not that I've spilled all the beans!).  But, I'd like to say that I've done a pretty good job at keeping up boundaries while enjoying their company.

I honestly don't know if I've ever laughed so much at my workplace.  I honestly don't know if I ever will again.  I look forward to the day when they will no longer be interns, however, and they become my colleagues.  I've always kept in touch with our "graduating" interns, and I hope to continue doing so.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm contractually obligated to go out to karaoke with these girls as soon as their internship is over.