Stepping Outside the Box

What is it that I want to do with my Social Work degree? Haha...I wonder if some people think I am crazy when I answer that question. My brother and I are going to be co-owners of a business. We want to have a place styled like a music venues--fun, real laid back, music all the time (I love music). This venue-type place is going to be strictly for teenagers. I hope to encourage self-expression, individuality, creativity, community, and conversation. I hope it will give something for teenagers to do in a town where there is nothing to do. I hope I can stir up conversation about real issues that we never talk about--self-harm, suicide, depression, cancer, eating disorders, whatever fears they may have, stuff like that. Also, I hope to have nights where I can stand up in front of them and educate them about these kinds of issues and tell them of ways they can get help with these issues. We will definitely have bands come play. THEIR paintings, drawings, poetry, photography, and what not will be put up all over the walls. I hope to have open mic nights where they can play music or read their poetry or whatever. Also along with this venue-type place, we hope to open a counseling center for teens (my brother and I are both social work majors). We hope that since these teenagers will know us they will trust us, and if they need counseling or just someone to talk to, they will come to us or at least let us refer them to someone we know. I know alot of teenagers that have to help support their families or that have to support themselves, so I hope to be able to provide a service at our counseling center that helps them find jobs.

Yeah, that's my future, or at least, I hope it is. I can't wait. It's going to be a lot of work, but it will be worth it.