My supervisor talked today, as she has before, about my "niche". She sees my secondary rotation as being my niche within the department, and she asked me what else I am interested in becoming involved in. I answered, and this other area, which is linked to my rotation, make it clear to her that I could carve out this niche and become a valued member of the district.
One one hand, I'm not completely sure this is what I want to be known for forever- the second part maybe, but I'm still unsure about the other work I have been doing. On the other hand, there is a value to having a niche, because it gives me an area of expertise that will be important to others. As I prepare to look for a job, and possibly stay in this district, anything that makes me stand out is critical.
The whole time I went through graduate school I tried to carve a niche for myself. Now, in internship, my identity has been shifting. I have found a new appreciation for counseling children and adolescents, which helps me build relationships in a way that I haven't done since I taught. As my caseload grows, though, I am trying to figure out what my niche is- adolescents with depression? anger management? children in poverty? Or is my niche the fact that I can apply everything I loved as a teacher and graduate student- creating support systems in schools, intervening early, and finding positive approaches to problems- to the issues facing children and adolescents with high need? I guess we'll see where it all ends up.
Have you found your niche? Do you know what you do that makes the world a better place? I hope we all find it.
I can't leave this week without mentioning my cousin*, Lisa Marie Calderone-Stewart, whose niche was empowering inner-city youth. She did an amazing job at it, too. She passed away on Friday. Here is her story.
*I think I have finally sorted out she is my third cousin, once removed? She's still family.
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