Zane Zarecki
Adult Outpatient Therapist, LiveWell Team
How did you get started in the field?
After graduating with my undergraduate degree in religion from TU, I was looking to work somewhere where I could make a real difference in whatever community I ended up in. I happened to come across an opening for an admin assistant position in the Live Well program here at FCS. Having lived just about all of my life in the Tulsa metro, I knew the impact that FCS has on its community. Luckily for me, growth within the agency is not only supported but encouraged. And now nearly 4 & a half years, one master’s degree in social work, 2 internships in Live Well, and 4 positions in Live Well later, here I am in my current role.
Why did you go into social work?
I have always believed that as humans everyone has innate gifts, skills, and talents. I also believe that we must use our innate gifts, skills, and talents to better the lives of those around us. For me, social work happened to be the perfect culmination of that ideal. I have felt a calling to help others and to be an advocate for change for my entire life. I have been the person that my friends and family have gone to for help since I was young, and I have always felt honored to hold that space for them.
I happened to first stumble upon social work a few months before starting my work at FCS. After deciding not to pursue a master’s and Ph.D. in religion, I was looking at master’s programs at OU-Tulsa, TU, and OSU-Tulsa, and the social work program at OU-Tulsa caught my eye. It looked like the perfect program for me, but I tabled it until I found a job as I wasn’t sure if I was going to stay in Tulsa. I was looking to further my education and grow within the agency after starting, and while looking through options, it showed up again. It felt like fate, and so I applied.
What do you love about your job?
There are many things I love about my job, but the thing I love most is getting to see how we make our fellow Tulsans’ lives better. I love being able to help others, and here at FCS, we get to do just that. There is nothing quite like a termination session with a client who has made so much progress that they can maintain their mental health without my help!
Other things I love about my job are that the values and mission of the agency align with my values, I get to work with some of the most wonderful people I know, and there are a plethora of opportunities for growth with FCS.
