Like many people leaving university in 2008, I entered the world of work through whatever paths were available rather than those that felt intentionally chosen. What I found was not direction, but systems, interlocking structures designed to manage people, risk, and distress. I began working in homelessness, substance use, and frontline care. Over the years I moved through hostels, outreach services, needle exchange programmes, and harm reduction work. Early in my career, I w