Sheridan Here I Come

After much deliberation and deciding between other offers, I officially have accepted a Casemanager position in the beautiful Sheridan, WY. The position is at the management level and I will no longer be a direct care staff. I will now be working 8-5 Monday through Friday coordinating with all casework tasks. The official job description is the following: Provides case management to youth and their families who are court-ordered to a residential facility; participates in court review hearings; maintains contact & provides correspondence to parents, field & judicial personnel.

The interview process was quite strenuous. I interviewed at the Worland Boy's School a week prior and after they told me that they would have an answer in two weeks, they called me the next day and offered me the position. So, when I was asked to interview for the Sheridan position, I knew that with it being a higher ranking position, I was going to really have to work for it. After the initial interview, I was asked to come back, sit in some meetings, and tour the facility while getting to know the rest of the management team before they made a decision. After spending the morning with them, I was posted behind closed doors with who will now be my direct boss and the Superintendent of the facility where we then negotiated salary and possible start dates. At that time, both I and them had the oppertunity to ask any and all last questions. I left after they told me they would have a decision made by Wednesday. But, i didn't leave for Newcastle, my next stop was Riverton where I was awarded an interview for a parole agent. 1 of only 9 that were granted interviews out of 114 applicants. With no field experience or experience with adult offenders, I felt out of my element but gave it my best go and things went well. A position that would be a great opportunity, but on my drive home yesterday, my phone rang and showed the Sheridan number. My heart jumped and before I even had time to let myself get nervous, I answered. When I heard the words, "How would you like to come work for us?" I was so excited and finally felt like all I had gone through the last few months was finally paying off. And not just the last few months of hard work, but I remember attending college and going further and further in debt, not knowing if it would ever pay off. But,getting that call, I knew I had done something right. I was one of three finalists in Sheridan and offered an amazing management position after much hard work and a long three years of gaining valuable experience in South Dakota.. After an evening of weighing out the pros and cons of my offers, I was relieved to make the call to Sheridan informing them of my acceptance to their offer.

So, now I embark on a new adventure. The facility is insanely nice. It was all rebuilt two years ago with brand new buildings. Plasma screen tv's, computer labs that are amazing, my own private office, and a huge chance to make a serious difference in adjudicated youth's lives. Their recidivism rate is at a remarkably low 17%. Not to mention, I will now be making DOUBLE what I made in South Dakota! God has blessed me. I know it will still be hard as I've always struggled with change, but I will be in great proximity to my family in one of the nicest, cleanest, cities in Wyoming.

Thanks to all for your support and dedication to me during this journey. Luckily, I don't have to start until September 1st which gives me time to make a smooth transition and go on that trip to Washington DC with my friends. Adventures await! Stay tuned to hear all about them.