Welcome to Fork in the Road—a podcast for high schoolers, from a high schooler, to help you navigate the big question: What’s next? Each episode, I’ll explore a different career path, featuring inspiring stories and insightful experiences with professionals from various fields. From the realities of day to day work to practical life advice, this is your guide to exploring what’s possible. I’m your host, Tina Pezeshgi.

Today I’m with Mira Mustafa, a sexual assault counselor from University of California Santa Cruz, and we’ll be discussing careers in social services.

Timestamps:

• 00:45- Introduction and role as a sexual assault counselor.

  01:31- Why social services?

• 03:15- Walk through of a typical day.

• 05:54- What kind of education and relevant degrees are required?

• 08:29- Skills needed to thrive in this career path?

• 09:55- Burnout, how to manage it?

• 11:38- Anything you wish more people knew about this career?

• 12:41- One piece of advice for upcoming high school graduates?