Sharsheret and Stories
At the staff retreat that I attended as a summer intern, we were asked to label Sharsheret using one word. The first word that came to my mind was “stories.” What continues to amaze me about the work that Sharsheret does is the intense focus on the importance of every individual’s unique story. No resource, email, or letter is sent to anyone connected to Sharsheret without complete confidence that the message is relevant to the person on the receiving end. The specific goal of my internship is to expand Sharsheret’s ovarian cancer program. Just the fact that this internship exists exemplifies the idea above. No two people are thought of as having the same story, and Sharsheret strives to put time and energy into personalizing the services that are provided for every individual. This focus on the individual is a unique quality for such a large organization. I noticed this attention to detail when given my first assignment to compile a list of Mikvaot that can be reached out to for Cultural Competency Trainings. I was stunned. I had never before thought about the experience of the Mikvah and how this seemingly routine act could be so strongly impacted for a woman who is going through or has gone through cancer treatment. However, Sharsheret thought about this. Sharsheret works hard to think about the every detail of every story that comes into contact with the organization. My next project included researching resources for caregivers – with the purpose of differentiating between different types of caregivers. Once again, Sharsheret’s appreciation of the nuances between people astonished me. No Family Focus Kit should be sent out to a family whose story is not acknowledged. The list goes on and on.As a future clinician, going into my second year of social work school, I hope to embody this quality with my own clients. I hope to acknowledge the uniqueness of every person’s story. I strive to have the same energy I see within the staff at Sharsheret when working towards providing appropriate services for each individual and family I support. Sharsheret has become a huge part of so many peoples’ stories. It has been a privilege to be able to say that Sharsheret is now a part of my own.