ella_rose88 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ella_rose88) wrote2023-01-12 11:04 am
ella_rose88) wrote2023-01-12 11:04 am
Snowflake Challenge Day 3 (2023)!
Challenge #3
In your own space, Scream Into the Void. Get it all out.
Trigger warning: death and bereavement.
So several months ago I started my final placement at Australian Red Cross (ARC) as part of my Disability and Developmental Education Bachelor with Honours degree. My amazing supervisor was the Disability Support Officer and she was the first in that new position there and she had made incredible changes that there was a massive increase on the number of staff and volunteers at ARC that have disability. My projects I did were to research different topics around disability for a handbook that would raise ARC staff's understanding of disability, and to also help he to redesign and research different topics around Autism (this one was particularly good for me to do as I am autistic). She was very impressed with my work, she was always supportive (she always accommodated for my autistic needs) and was always encouraging me, specifically since I explained to her the significant issues I had on my last placement. She was so happy with the work I did that she wanted me to continue as a volunteer there and had hopes that I would get a paid job there. This was meaningful to me because in the past placement I nearly failed and it was actually due to them not recognizing the issues I had were related to being undiagnosed as autistic (I was going through the journey of being formally diagnosed). So it was wonderful to finally have someone who not only believed in me, but saw my potential.
Anyway, on Tuesday morning I got a phone call from someone at ARC who informed me that she had a heart attack and that she was in the ICU and things weren't looking good. Her family had informed ARC that anyone who wanted to visit her at the hospital could do so, which I did later that afternoon. I managed to see for for a bit, and say my goodbyes (though I didn't really say anything, I found it too hard to come up with any words, but I held her hand) and meet her family to share my love to them. Then, this morning I got another phone call to say that she had passed away (I'm guessing she died last night) and while it was expected I'm still really sad about it. I did not know her long but she made a huge impression and impact on me. She was inspirational to me in the way she worked and advocated for people with disability and I learnt so much from her. I was really looking forward to continuing under her wing and learn so much more from her. She only turned 50 in September last year, she was so young and had some much more to give to the world and I'm really angry that she is gone. She was truly a good, wonderful woman and there are not many I would say that are like her (apart from my own family and friends).
I'm also feeling lost as to what the future will be as I was meant to start as a volunteer in February on some more projects she wanted me to do - I know that I would love to still volunteer there as it is a wonderful organization, but I'm anxious about what will happen to her role (I mean I'm assuming that they will employ someone else). I'm sure that they would employ someone who is suited to the role what it won't be the same. I'm just sad and I'm really going to miss her.
In your own space, Scream Into the Void. Get it all out.
Trigger warning: death and bereavement.
So several months ago I started my final placement at Australian Red Cross (ARC) as part of my Disability and Developmental Education Bachelor with Honours degree. My amazing supervisor was the Disability Support Officer and she was the first in that new position there and she had made incredible changes that there was a massive increase on the number of staff and volunteers at ARC that have disability. My projects I did were to research different topics around disability for a handbook that would raise ARC staff's understanding of disability, and to also help he to redesign and research different topics around Autism (this one was particularly good for me to do as I am autistic). She was very impressed with my work, she was always supportive (she always accommodated for my autistic needs) and was always encouraging me, specifically since I explained to her the significant issues I had on my last placement. She was so happy with the work I did that she wanted me to continue as a volunteer there and had hopes that I would get a paid job there. This was meaningful to me because in the past placement I nearly failed and it was actually due to them not recognizing the issues I had were related to being undiagnosed as autistic (I was going through the journey of being formally diagnosed). So it was wonderful to finally have someone who not only believed in me, but saw my potential.
Anyway, on Tuesday morning I got a phone call from someone at ARC who informed me that she had a heart attack and that she was in the ICU and things weren't looking good. Her family had informed ARC that anyone who wanted to visit her at the hospital could do so, which I did later that afternoon. I managed to see for for a bit, and say my goodbyes (though I didn't really say anything, I found it too hard to come up with any words, but I held her hand) and meet her family to share my love to them. Then, this morning I got another phone call to say that she had passed away (I'm guessing she died last night) and while it was expected I'm still really sad about it. I did not know her long but she made a huge impression and impact on me. She was inspirational to me in the way she worked and advocated for people with disability and I learnt so much from her. I was really looking forward to continuing under her wing and learn so much more from her. She only turned 50 in September last year, she was so young and had some much more to give to the world and I'm really angry that she is gone. She was truly a good, wonderful woman and there are not many I would say that are like her (apart from my own family and friends).
I'm also feeling lost as to what the future will be as I was meant to start as a volunteer in February on some more projects she wanted me to do - I know that I would love to still volunteer there as it is a wonderful organization, but I'm anxious about what will happen to her role (I mean I'm assuming that they will employ someone else). I'm sure that they would employ someone who is suited to the role what it won't be the same. I'm just sad and I'm really going to miss her.