BECOMING AN AGENT OF CHANGE

Greetings everyone! I’m Riccel Melindo, delighted to share a glimpse into my journey with you. At 25 years old, I find myself reflecting on the twists and turns that have shaped my path. I am the third child among four siblings.

At the age of 16, I was not living with my parents anymore as I moved to Zamboanga City, which is 6 hours away from my hometown to study at college. I was not totally alone because I had my 2 sisters with me, and we were living in the same rented room, or we commonly called it in the Philippines as boarding house.

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I took up Bachelor of Science in Social Work which I didn’t know what it is about. I was influenced by my mother as this profession is in demand. As I study the program, I started loving it because there are a lot of fields to practice this profession, but it is underrated here in the Philippines. Only a few know about Social Work. The effort and change Social Workers made in the community had not been recognized. The people that are being helped didn’t even know that the people who helped them are Social Workers. I graduated college at the age of 20 in 2018. After I passed the board exam for Social Workers in the same year.

I decided to apply for a job in Cebu city. My family supported me with it, and I travelled to Cebu City knowing nothing with my college classmate. It was the same situation when I was at college, I lived in a very small, rented room with my college classmate.

I felt like it was very far away from my home. The city is fast paced, and I felt like I was in a hurry to get a job. As a first-time applicant, I passed my application letter and resume to many companies and organizations online and in person. In the same year, 2018.

I was hired for the first time as a Social Worker/Case Manager at the Center for Behavioral Support that caters for children who have behavioral challenges. Most of them are children with autism and ADHD. There, I conducted one-on-one play sessions with them. I teach them to regulate their own emotions in coping up appropriately.

It was tough for me as I started practicing my profession because there were a lot of things to consider because they are very sensitive to lights, sounds, touch, etc. I had to have behavioral strategies with me as I was dealing with their sudden tantrums (hitting, throwing, shouting, crying, walking, whining, and many more). I experienced being hit suddenly while we were doing an activity. I was emotional and tired, but that taught me to be more patient with them. My patience grew as I practiced my profession.

Those were the storms I had, but there were rainbows that I truly appreciated, and I felt fulfilled seeing and hearing the children’s progress. For over 1 year and 6 months working with children with autism/ADHD, and behavioral challenged, I value more of their differences in our society that they also need to belong, be loved, and be understood, because they are talented and capable of things on their own ways.

The onset of Covid-19 brought about my worst experience, leading to the loss of my job and a profound sense of anxiety about the future. I struggled with sleep and felt trapped in a cycle of uncertainty. I was stuck and hopeless. I returned to my hometown. For almost a year I had been sending application letters and resumes, I got some interviews, but failed. Until Hope Mountain Foundation posted a job for Social Worker. I got hired and went back to Cebu. I was thrilled and happy as I got to serve the children again and this time, they are victim-survivors of online exploitation and sexual abuse.

Hope Mountain Center is a residential facility for children. It is a safe refuge of hope and healing. This job is not for everyone as you must deal with the children who have had very traumatic experiences and as you hear their stories, you couldn’t imagine that it would happen in real life. Stories that made you think how blessed you are, stories that would realize you how vulnerable they are, and stories that would tear your heart.

I’m eager to join the Hive community on Peakd.com to create an online journal for my passion and I wanted the community to get to know the real deal of a Social Worker. I was inspired to do so after hearing about it from @chimegipamus and @imaware. I was thinking that it could be one of the ways to influence/guide people who wanted to be a social worker in the future.

Over the past five years, I’ve dedicated myself to guiding these children through therapeutic sessions and providing support in their journey. Despite the challenges, I find immense fulfillment in my work; it’s more than a job, it’s a calling.

Outside of work, I find solace in leisure activities such as yoga, meditation, and outdoor adventures, connecting with nature. During my free time, I prioritize self-care, indulging in activities like massages, getting my nails done, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Joining this platform allows me not only to share my experiences with an online community but also to create a meaningful record of my journey for the future. I’ve come to understand that every aspect of my life, including my work and struggles, holds profound meaning, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve both the children and the greater purpose I believe in. Through faith and perseverance, I’ve overcome these challenges, finding purpose and hope in serving vulnerable children. We are the unsung heroes, but that didn’t stop me from continuing serving people, especially children.

As I look ahead, I am filled with excitement to continue sharing the stories of the resilient I have the privilege to serve. The goal is to help children transform from helpless victims to thriving survivors. Through faith and perseverance, I am committed to being a voice for the voiceless, illuminating the hope and healing for those who need it most. I am a Social Worker for something because I serve people (children) with a heart and a purpose. I’ve discovered profound fulfillment in serving others.

I'm excited to share with you more of my stories on my next blog, so stay tuned.