Thursday Rant

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life
as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed.

Booker T. Washington

Thursday sure has rolled around quickly, hasn't it?  I'm not complaining.  Another work week is almost over.  Tomorrow evening is our graduation ceremony for those clients who completed the program. It's always a tearful time, and this will be the last one I participate in.  Graduation is for those who accomplished something while in the program, even it is only to maintain abstinence and good attendance.  This year I have S. who managed to battle his heroin addiction and go to school to become a barber.  Later this month he takes his test for certification.

J. has been in and out of prison his entire life, and he openly admits that this is the longest he has been able to stay out without being violated.  He had found full-time employment, has reconciled with his family, and will be moving into his own apartment in July.  O. has spent many years on the streets and in the shelter system.  He finally has his own place.  N. was a terror when he first entered the program.  In fact, I'm the only one he never cursed out. No one thought he would make it.  But, here he is, a year later, and everyone loves him, and, when he speaks in group, the newcomers take out a pen and write down what he has to say.  He has become a true role model.  D. came to the program from parole.  He, too, had had a problem staying out of prison, as well as some serious health issues. He not only complied with the work program he was placed in, but did so while taking care of his medical problems.  Today he is stable and ready to work a real job. 

The only damper on the whole thing is J., who has done absolutely nothing, and I mean NOTHING.  His attendance has been atrocious, and there is no way to tell whether he has been drinking or not because I never get to see him.  He misses his psychiatric appointments and doesn't appear for his 'shot' in a timely manner.  He's  not made an attempt to do anything, so when my boss asked if I wanted to graduate him, I said, "No, he hasn't earned it."  So, you can imagine my chagrin when I was informed that he'd been placed on the graduation list.  Why even ask me if if my opinion didn't matter? 

When I said something about it, my boss said they, and the housing director just wanted to move him on to a mental health program.  Well, why didn't they just tell me to complete him and move him on?   Isn't that hypocritical and unfair to those who worked hard to get where they are now? It's also unfair to the client.  We teach our clients a new way of living. So, what are we teaching him when we reward him for doing nothing?  And what am I supposed to say?  I have to give a little speech about each of them and their successes.  What do I say about him?  They've really put me in a delicate situation.  To be honest, the man is nice, he's just unmotivated, and I don't want to embarrass him in any way.  So, what am I to do?  Any suggestions will be helpful. 

Thanks for listening. 

It is never too late
to be what you
might have been.

George Eliot