Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Raychel Modlin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Raychel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

The best boss I have ever had is my current supervisor Amanda Boyd. I don’t say that because I work for her, I have had many great bosses. What makes Amanda different is that she has helped me grow and learn in the case manager field. She has taken the time to invest not in just me but in all of the staff that she is over. She invests in people and wants to see people succeed. She not only leads but she also will get in the trenches with her team. I have worked with Amanda at The Sanctuary Foster Care Services for over a year now, but I have known her for about 4 as we previously worked together. From the time I met her and up until now she has challenged me to be the best me I can be and has helped mold me into the leader, and team player I am now. She has challenged me not only in the work field and helping me mold and grow into a great leader but she has invested in me personally and has helped me become closer to god. Amanda is someone I would define as a fearless leader and team member. Amanda is an example of someone who leads and is willing to follow in order for a team to succeed. I would say the thing about Amada is that she is not willing to lead where she is not willing to go.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I began in the field of social work because I wanted to be a change in the foster care system. I was a child in the foster care system and aged out of the foster care system. I had the most amazing social worker named Holly and she saved my life. She invested her time in me and made sure that I never gave up on myself. Because of her I started college and was able to get an apartment. It took me 8 years to complete college. I was the first person in my family to graduate high school and go to college and graduate college. I received my degree in Human Services with a specialty in criminal justice. I started my first job in social work at a foster care agency. That helped me to see the foster care system from a different perspective and to see how important it is to invest in children are. As a foster child who aged out of foster care, I have a unique perspective to know what it means to be a foster child and where some of the issues lie and how the system can improve.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I believe that although I had a difficult child hood and was in foster care I believe that everything I went through was to bring me to where I am today. Being a foster child, who aged out, and did not allow myself to become a statistic, has allowed me to be where I am. Although this field definitely has its challenges especially emotionally, I would not change it for the world. It has helped me become more compassionate, and although I see the worst in mankind, I also get to see the best in the world.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lesson that I have had to unlearn is that building relationships is okay. I have learned that it is okay to get close to people and that it okay to trust. I know know that it is better to trust and love and know that every hurt is a growing opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sanctuaryfostercare.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesanctuarytx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanctuaryfostercare