Riding High

My two week vacation ended in triumph. I started with a visit to the family, and a blitz of year-end movies in order to finish up my personal 2007 top 10 list (which resulted in lots of fun dialogue in the comments section.) After that, I buckled down and started studying to take my social work boards.

I scheduled myself for a Saturday morning exam date at Bellevue Community College. The test itself is a four hour ordeal... 170 multiple choice questions... many of them cumbersome and complicated (and requiring you to choose the "best" option between several right answers.) I think it was probably closest to the reading comprehension sections of the GRE or the SAT in terms of how much energy each question takes.

By Thursday I was feeling pretty nervous. To pass, a candidate must score a 70 on the test. So far, the highest score I had heard of anyone getting was a 78. Failing would mean forfeiting the $250 in fees, plus waiting 90 days until a retest would be possible. Friday morning I took a four-hour practice test and scored exactly 70. But then I talked to a schoolmate who had recently taken the exam who told me that he only got a 69 on his final practice test and wound up passing easily, so my confidence was bolstered.

The night before, I abstained from any drinking, rehydrated fully, and got a good night's sleep. I had quit caffeine in the previous weeks, but decided to have a half cup of coffee on Saturday morning. Armed with that, and a couple of fake bacon and fried egg sandwiches, I walked into the testing center.

Three and a half hours later, I had a little strut in my step. I scored a walloping 80. Now the state does some paperwork, and in two weeks I'll be a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. This doesn't change my job too much, but should entitle me to a nice little raise in salary and gives me a bit more leverage when I do someday apply for another a position. Plus, I can bill insurance for therapy services now, which makes it easier for me to take on clients in my current position. I also have to get new business cards, since I'm no longer John Streimikes, MSW, but rather JOHN STREIMIKES, LICSW!

So all told, it was a tremendous two week break. I go back to work tomorrow recharged and with a major load of stress off my back.