This week was my last week working with my local health department. It has also been my first week of orientation at my new position in a new health department. Thanksgiving "break" is looking more like a verb than a noun right about now.
Only joking-both branches that I have been privileged enough to be a part of have been wonderfully welcoming...and incredibly kind in saying our "farewells for now". I just clocked out for the last time and it stymies me how much time has passed and what has been cultivated in that time. The mastery of a computer system I was tempted to kick out of a window on multiple occasions...the quick, but easy, shorthand conversations with my colleagues...over 150 cases who are people-real, human, people-who I walked with on their journey to recovery from COVID-19, with a few very poignant exceptions. I am incredibly excited for this next chapter, and at the same time can palpably feel my fingers falter to turn the page.
I have not made a vocational transition like this before and I believe the feeling truly comes down to the people. My dad always said, "You can do any job as long as the people you're working with are good." Now having been in a role that often demanded 10- or 12- hour days, weekend after weekend of full slates of cases, and the best folks around, I can say with absolute confidence that he was right.
I am excited to grow into my new role and find the new people with whom we will write a similar, but different, shorthand way of communicating. THe will be new frustrating technology and, unfortunately, it seems like plenty of people with COVID-19 who need that person to walk the path with them. While there are always questions in the back of my mind, I know for certain that based on the authentic and enthusiastic welcome, this next chapter is going to be a page-turner in the best way possible.
Let's get to work.
Prepare, don't panic,
-Allison
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