Contributed by Vivian Gietz
When I applied for the Administrative Assistant position at Charlford House Society for Women, my goal was simply to find a new full time position. My previous workplace had become stressful and had a long commute from my home. At the same time, I was determined to find something that aligned better with my long term career interests in social justice and communications.
When I interviewed for the position at Charlford, I instantly knew that this was a place I would be able to call home. I immediately had a “gut feeling” I was meant to work here and was completely overjoyed when offered the position. Since starting, I’ve been told by everyone here that you can feel the love and magic of Charlford House the moment you step inside. That is certainly true; I felt it when I first came for my interview and every day since. I am very humbled to be a part of it.
Though I haven’t personally struggled with addiction, I have dealt with my own mental illnesses. I’m all too familiar with the overwhelming negative power the troubled mind can have. I also have a number of friends and family who struggle with addiction. I find it incredibly encouraging and inspirational to hear the women of Charlford speak so openly about addiction recovery and mental health.
I’m someone who loves to think and talk about emotional growth and connections to others and the world around us. It’s very important to me that these virtues, and the self-awareness that comes with them, are valued as part of people’s journeys towards improvement. Here at Charlford House, everyone truly demonstrates that through dedication to growth, conversation, and connection, miraculous things can happen.
The success stories and impressive history of Charlford House are clear evidence of this. I knew I was joining an organization I could be proud to say I work for. Working here for only a couple weeks, I’ve already learned much more about addiction than my limited knowledge was before my arrival. This knowledge will help me continue to empathize with those in my life struggling with addiction and provide tactics applicable to coping with my own mental illness, even if it isn’t addiction-related.
The position is exactly what I was looking for in so many ways. Writing articles, managing social media, and redesigning websites are exactly the areas where my passions lie, especially for such a great cause. With such a welcoming environment and the opportunity to expand these skills, I certainly seem to have found a position that exceeds my expectations. I look forward to working here for the foreseeable future. I can’t wait to see what I help Charlford accomplish while I’m here.