A kid that I used to mentor killed a guy, and now I'm being a bia bia on life.

[Soldiermedic]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/us/03mental.html

So yeah, I just had this article sent to me from an old co worker. I worked with the guy in a facility, restrained him a few times, and actually worked as his advocate for a while.

Its pretty much making me re evaluate my choices on life for the past 8 years, and I am thinking about a career change.

I've worked with violent kids, thats not the issue. I've been shanked, pooped on, spit on, been the victim of a lot of frotteurism, and seen more teenage genitalia than I would care to recount.

[ShaolinKungPao]

how many people do you think you've genuinely made a difference for in the years you've been doing this? The number might be higher than you think. Not telling you to stay in a place where you're unhappy...just playing devil's advocate for the moment.

Then the other question: What would you change to? Something in a similar, but less violent vein, or would you leave the industry altogether?

[BearHammer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/us/03mental.html

So yeah, I just had this article sent to me from an old co worker. I worked with the guy in a facility, restrained him a few times, and actually worked as his advocate for a while.

Its pretty much making me re evaluate my choices on life for the past 8 years, and I am thinking about a career change.

I've worked with violent kids, thats not the issue. I've been shanked, pooped on, spit on, been the victim of a lot of frotteurism, and seen more teenage genitalia than I would care to recount.

I don't think anyone could blame you for thinking that way. Seems like a thankless job with a never ending supply of bad behavior and stress. This guy in the article sounds like he has had problems since childhood. I'm not sure you or anyone would be in a good position to help him change his life around. Too bad there was never a comprehensive file done to accompany him from facility to facility. It might have made a difference.

[Soldiermedic]

Incidentally, I brought my poor me victim stance attitude to my unit director, and told her I was suffering from spiritual anomie, and she basically told me to harden the fuck up.

[BackFistMonkey]

Today I learned a new word "frotteurism". I never wanted to know there was word for that. Thanks for nothing soldiermedic!

... but seriously harden the fuck up ( * snicker * ). You must have done something for someone in time you have dedicated to the job, you couldn't have been dealing with all that shit , assholes, and dickheads ( * snickers * ) just to get a paycheck every week.

You either like the power trip, or like helping people. You can't save or succeed in helping everyone. All you can do is try and hope something you say or do sticks in one of their heads and promotes positive change.

[WhiteShark]

My childhood best friend killed his mom with a baseball bat. Shit happens.