Christine M.

My mother is a child protection social worker, and she inspired me to pursue a career in social work as well. It seemed like a job that offered the chance to gain a diverse pool of knowledge about the human experience and about the world around us.

CancerCare is unique because we are so well-rounded not only in terms of the services we offer (counseling, support groups, educational resources, financial assistance) but in terms of the populations we serve (people living with cancer, caregivers, children, teens, the bereaved and even health care professionals). We are also among the few organizations that offer live help over the phone. Speaking with a live person allows clients to talk through all the needs that they have, and social workers can suggest other resources based on an individual’s situation. We do our best to support clients in every way possible—and simplifying their research process is just one of the ways we do that.

I love taking calls on our Hopeline because I’m struck by how kind some people are. In my eyes, we’re just doing our jobs, but callers are so thankful that we exist. I feel lucky to have helped people from almost every state; if I take a call from Rhode Island, I’ll complete the map! Regardless of where they’re from, all my clients’ stories and experiences are important to me. Seeing and speaking to my clients challenges my ways of thinking, makes me a more compassionate person and gives me the drive to keep going.