The Effect They Had On Me

The Effect They Had on Me

John Paul Derryberry

If you had told me I’d find my social work nirvana in a small North Iowa city, surrounded by rural landscapes just outside the city limits, I would have laughed. Six years ago, my wife and I moved our young family to her hometown, and I brought my energetic, different style of social work to a group who likely thought I was nuts. Over time, some team members admitted they thought so, too, but soon opened up honestly with me. Since entering this field, I’ve criticized its outdated approaches and even faced corrective action for my blunt words toward leaders. But a few mentors helped focus my style into something more effective.

What I didn’t expect was how much the community, my coworkers, and social work allies would influence me. Many in my new community wanted to improve, ask for help, share ideas, and make social work effective for all—a first for me. Gone was the infighting, blame, or just getting by. Instead, there was a genuine effort to work collectively. I had no idea I needed this. I felt like a wanderer finding an oasis—unexpected and refreshing.

I found myself among people determined to do better, solve problems, care for clients and each other, and build community—all with little drama. I couldn’t quite believe it: I was finally doing the work I’d always imagined, with a community that helped make it possible. They credit my loud voice and vision, but I had long dreamed of this approach since I was in graduate school, and I couldn’t make it happen alone. My vision needed to mix with their vision of the work we need to do to create something better. Better than anything I could come up with on my own.  With their support, my passion reignited, and after 23 years, I wasn’t jaded. I was free to build community, help others, and wasn’t alone. I needed them as much as they needed me, and I never expected to find this passion where I did. Life’s funny that way.

Is it perfect? Nope! Are there people who wish I weren’t so loud? Yup. Do we still have work to do? Yes! Will we meet our idealistic goals? Who knows. But we’re going to try, and we’re doing it in a new way. This group has made me a better person, and I couldn’t ask for a better community. Their impact was profound. After years of calling for change, I learned that slight adjustments in my approach could make a major impact on my mission—to leave people and communities better than I found them. Having others lift me up has helped me lift others up in return.