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Jessica Nelson
Majors: Biology and Peace Studies
Year of Graduation: 2009
Current Position: Prevention Advocate, Common Ground: The Westside HIV Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
Graduate School: Will begin a Master's in Public Health (Maternal and Child Health) at the University of Minnesota in Fall 2011.
Please give a brief description of your current position/location and what it entails?
I am a prevention advocate at Common Ground- a comprehensive HIV agency in Santa Monica, CA. I do HIV testing and counseling, needle exchange services, overdose (narcan) trainings, community outreach, HIV/Hep C trainings in the community, data-entry and co-run Common Ground's homeless youth drop-in.
What path did you follow to arrive at your current job?
My current job is a year-long position through AmeriCorps/Episcopal Service Corps. While I was at CSB/SJU, I majored in Biology and Peace Studies and was involved in lacrosse, College Democrats, Student Preparation Committee, Kenya May Term, Roman/Greco Study Abroad and India/Nepal Summer Term. I also tutored inmates at the St. Cloud Prison and was a Special Olympics Swim Coach. After graduation, I interned for two and a half months at Shtrii Shakti-an NGO in Kathmandu, Nepal, whose mission is the empowerment of women, youth and excluded groups in Nepal. After my return from Nepal, I spent 8 months living at home and working as a coordinator at Quality Care Services (a group home for four adults with developmental disabilities) before I moved out to Los Angeles to work at Common Ground for the year.
What advice/suggestions would you have for students who might be interested in your career?
Challenge yourself. Expose yourself to new ideas, people and experiences. Be genuine. Discover your passion and pursue it.
What skills are important in your field?
The skills I find most valuable to have in this field are listening and communication skills, flexibility, willingness to try/learn new things, and the ability to multitask. It's also important to be open-minded, inquisitive and passionate.
What are the most challenging and satisfying parts of your job?
One of the most challenging aspects of my job is that I can't meet everyone's needs and expectations and that there are times when I have to turn people away from our services (because they're too old, etc.). We also are dealing with limited resources (funding, people, services, etc.) and so it's a constant challenge to meet people's needs. Another challenge is having resources available that clients don't want to access/ that they aren't ready to access.
Another major challenge is that most of my clients are seen as throw-aways/outcasts from society as many of my clients are of some sort of excluded group-e.g.: they're homeless, injection drug users, HIV positive, sex workers, have mental illness, and so on-- and so it's very frustrating and disheartening to witness the stigmas, judgment and discrimination my clients live with on a daily basis.
One of the most satisfying parts of my job is when I earn the trust of my clients and they are able to open up to me and share their stories/ask for help. Another great part of my job is being present for someone when they're going through a difficult situation (whether that be in an HIV test counseling session, at the homeless youth drop-in, etc.) and helping them in whatever way I can; whether it's just listening, a hug, a referral, or something more. I also find it extremely satisfying when someone learns something new and they feel empowered in regard to their health/ rights/ situation, etc.