Summer Internship

Since I transferred this past semester from the University of Kentucky to Stetson College of Law, I lost some credits which has forced me to take summer classes. After taking summer classes during my master's program, I swore I would never take them again. Who likes going to school during the summer, especially in sunny Florida??? But my choices were to go to school during the summer or graduate in December 2012 instead of May 2012. Not even a choice-- of course, I am graduating in May!

So, this summer I am taking 2 classes, one at school and one online, and I am doing an internship for class credit. I am so glad that I got the placement I did with my internship. I was placed at the Bay Area Legal Services (www.bals.org). BALS is an organization that operates under private grant funding to provide legal services to people who can't afford hiring a private attorney. Their services include representing clients in domestic violence cases, elder abuse, child neglect and abuse, and divorces where domestic violence is present. My very first day there I had the privilege of attending one of their meetings where former clients spoke about how BALS had helped them in their situations. It was so neat to hear the testimonies. One man who has 3 young children came to BALS because his wife was being abusive to him and the kids and was not caring for the children at all. He found out later that while he was working 16 hour shifts, his wife would keep the babies drugged and sedated because she didn't want to bother with them. Then when he came home, the kids would be wide awake and he would have to stay up to take care of him. He shared how BALS had helped him file for divorce and had also helped him get the resources he needed to take for his 3 children. I sat there in the meeting thinking, 'WOW, I would love to work at this place.'

I am excited about the opportunities this internship may bring, and I am also praying that doors will be opened so that in May 2012 when I graduate, I will have a job, whether or not it is with BALS. For the longest time, it seemed that my career was so far off, something in the distance, and now all of the sudden, it looks like it might become actually become a reality. I know that God has placed a passion in my heart to work at an organization like BALS. I know that all the schooling and student loans were not in vain. I know God has a plan for my life, a plan to use my gifts and talents for his glory. I know this now, but I have doubted it so many times. I doubted it after I finished my master's only to be turned down for so many jobs. I doubted is as I bounced around from one part-time job to another. I doubted it as I watched my friends begin their careers. I doubted it in law school as I sat beside students younger and smarter than me. I know that a job is not everything and that it doesn't define you, but it is a desire of my heart. It is a way that I believe God will use me. I have the privilege of watching God use Josh in his job everyday, and I see how much joy he has in doing what he loves and was created to do. I long for that and know it will be worth the wait. I almost cried sitting in that meeting last week because I could see the promise of a plan for my life at work. Even if it is not at BALS, I know that I will be making a difference somewhere in Tampa, and that one day, I will be listening to my clients' stories. I CAN'T WAIT!