[jman197]

So I am looking for my first job. My peer, who is like a caseworker but has mental health problems as well, is trying to find me a job as a peer. A peer is someone on a treatment team who has been or is still in treatment for mental health, who acts like a caseworker who can relate to the client in a way a caseworker can't. They share life experience and help with talking to the people on the caseload they have. I am planning on starting as a volunteer down at the courthouse in my county for mental health court. The only issue is to get a good job I have to take driver's training and get a driver's license. I am kinda scared to do this because I don't have a lot of money to spare and I don''t want to take the class and then fail. I am also working on another project. I have a friend who has his own publishing company and he is willing to publish my poetry. I have been waiting for a break like this since I was 16 and now its coming true. It's still scary though because I don't know if anyone will buy my book. I am thinking on sending some copies out to schools so I can show college kids and young adults my age that they aren't alone. That is one of the reasons I want to publish my work the other being that I want more income. I collect SSI but its not entirely enough for all of the things I need and want. I usually end up borrowing money and I don't want to continue doing that. Can anyone give me any advice about this nervousness and also about juggling working as a peer and my writing if I do get the job volunteering?

My country has peer support jobs too and one thing people I know who work in them say is to ask what "on the job" support you'll get - eg debriefings, whether you can take time off to attend your own pdoc or T appointments.

No harm sending copies of your book out - someone I knew borrowed book publishing equipment from her work (think she was allowed to) and gave copies of her poetry book out.

[Misssy2]

Best of luck..you can do this...

[ablankscript]

Nervousness doesn't have to be a bad thing, it is natural to feel nervous when you are exposing yourself to others, just be open to all forms of praise and criticism. Remember why you are doing what you are doing and that your reason is greater than your ego. As far as being able to volunteer and write might suggestion is to start your day earlier or if you are a night person stay up later. For me the early morning has become my most productive time of the day. Also from my study many successful person whether they be artists, business people, or holy people swear by the early hours of the day, when the world is quiet.