Turning things around
One of the most rewarding work stories I have took place when I was working as a Youth Aid Officer in Porirua with some really troubled youth. One of the young guys I was working with was trying so hard to stay out of trouble, he got a steady job and was staying in a caravan close to where he was working.
I ran into him about a year later when he was almost 18 and he told me that before he met me and his social worker he was almost ready to give up on life completely. He was either going to join the Mongrel Mob or commit suicide before we intervened and it was our help and belief in him that he needed to turn things around in his life. That kind of reward is something you can't find in too many jobs...