I Am Just One Person but I Can Make A Difference
I cannot solve all of your problems, but I promise to try and bring peace in a dark time in your life.
I see your bruises; I hear your cries for help all times of the day and night.
Who am I to ignore your hurt?
How can I sleep knowing I passed up the opportunity to make it alright?
You didn’t ask to be in this cruel world, you were so innocently placed.
I can only imagine how it feels not understanding why mommy and daddy hits you and calls you a disgrace.
I know what it feels like to think everyone is against you, or that you did something wrong.
Lying in bed at night with tears in your eyes wondering “what did I do so wrong”?
The pains of your wounds don’t hurt as much as the pain in your heart.
You’re so young. You have so much to live for, yet your view is obstructed by the life you perceive as falling apart.
Nobody knows what you deal with when you go home. Nobody knows that sometimes your parents leave you for days at a time, all alone.
Your dad is an alcoholic; your mom is addicted to pain killers.
If there is a God, you pray he personally becomes your parent’s healers
Maybe then you would have a better life, and the beatings would stop.
Or maybe someone would hear your screams one day and call the cops.
Whatever the case, you hope that this all ends soon.
From this chipped and cracked concrete, you visualize a flower that blooms.
I on the other hand study your case, visit your place, and immediately react to the abuse.
I hope I maintain enough evidence to put in good use.
I admire your strength.
You’re going through so much and you’re able to keep it bottled in.
Pretend your childhood is okay, and smile at me when I ask questions about your life at home
Deep down we both are hoping that your painful days will soon be long gone
I cannot save everyone’s life, but I promised to try and alleviate the many problems you’ve faced
Even if that means temporarily moving you to a warmer and loving place
It’s important that I make a difference in your life, because if it were one of my children I would hope someone would do the same
So many children are victims and being abused by their parents who have no one else to blame
So many witnesses see this abuse and fail to contact social services
So many of these impressionable children don’t speak up because they don’t believe they have voices
I am YOUR social worker, but YOU don’t realize the impact you will forever hold on me
Because of YOUR voice, your courage, your integrity, I came to your aide
You saved your own life; I just was there to guide you
The way I view anyone in a situation like or similar to yours each time is changed
Thank you for showing me strength in the worst circumstances
I realize that I cannot save the world, but my voice and determination can give some young and abused children second chances
… At childhood