Ever since I was a child, I have been drawn to help others less fortunate than myself. Through my years of volunteer and educational experiences, I have discovered a passion for helping children and families. These experiences cemented my resolve to help children thrive in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment. They are the most vulnerable population of people whose rights are often infringed upon due to their inability to speak up for themselves. Becoming a social worker will put me in a position to speak up and advocate for these at-risk children and ensure that they have the resources and help they deserve. This degree will allow me to continue my pursuit of social justice by helping me offer guidance and direction in people’s lives and make a true difference in the world. This passion for helping others will prove the driving force towards my success in the University of Denver’s graduate program in Social Work. Through my plethora of volunteer experiences helping at-risk children, I have found that giving my time and assistance to others less fortunate is the most fulfilling way I can spend my time. I believe this passion to help others will keep me motivated in my job and help me persevere during the most difficult times. Because social work comes with a lot of emotional difficulty, my passion for helping families will keep me focused on my final goal of providing assistance despite what difficult obstacles come my way. The trait that will further fuel this passion is my empathy. I am able to identify and understand another person’s emotions and truly feel for them. Therefore, if I see someone that needs help, I do everything in my power to help and do not give up until that person is better off than they were before. ... ... middle of paper ... ...ut different countries, cultures, and points of views. I also took many elective Sociology courses that emphasized diversity. Two courses that stood out to me were Deviance, Diversity and Difference and Global Sexualities. In the Global Sexualities course, I learned about the point of view of individuals of various sexual orientations and their experiences of prejudice in their every day lives. In Deviance, Diversity, and Difference, the topics were ones in which people have automatic preconceptions about what kind of people hold certain beliefs and act in certain ways. It is often times easy to label someone who engages in activities outside “the norm” as deviants without bothering to try to understand why they believe what they do. These courses taught me to have an open mind when learning about different cultures and perspectives, which will be a strong asset for
I knew I loved to help others but it was not until I was an emerging adult that I knew what my calling was. My devotion to improve the quality of life for those who are disadvantaged is one of the reasons I have chosen to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. After obtaining my masters, I plan on diversifying my masters by getting licensed and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I would like to study social work because I feel it will lead me directly to one of the most emotionally fulfilling careers available, as well as giving me the chance to combine helping people 's mental well being with their physical
There are many different career fields you can go into as a social worker: from mental health, drug and alcohol abuse all the way to child welfare. Child welfare is my primary target when I become a social worker. I feel that I will have the biggest impact if I help the kids out that will be creating our future world. If I can help the kids of the next generation then maybe my influence will help more than just those few kids I see every day. Plus ever since I can remember people told me I need to be doing a job that helps children. I want to be able to make a difference in the community, and if I can help the kids, then I know I’ll be helping the community. Being a student at Wilmington College will help me fulfill these values and skills, but the thing that
I first became interested in social work when I took a human rights course as part of my political science major requirements. Throughout the course, I was fascinated and disturbed by the historic oppression of many large groups in society, and I realized my interests lie outside of the political arena; thus, I double-majored in social policy & practice because of my desire to learn more about how to enhance human well-being, fight social injustice, and pursue social change. I soon realized I wanted to pursue graduate social work education in order to gain a more holistic understanding of social problems and human ailments and, in turn, better understand the best ways to fix them. My background in political science and social policy gives me a unique perspective on the field of social work, as I have gained immense knowledge on social issues, the law, and public policy that will be useful in my graduate school and professional endeavors to fight for social justice and human rights.
Zlotnik, J. L. & Cornelius, L. (2000). Preparing Social Work Students for Child Welfare Careers:
...l in an urban area. When working closely with students in the past, it was difficult knowing that I could provide extensive support but didn’t have the expertise. I 've explored different careers involving help children and their families but it always led back to social work. As a graduate student, I expect to be challenged as a student and a professional. I expect to learn all the different theories, practices and policies in place to properly help students. I look forward to the combination of coursework and practicums to enhance my skills. In retrospect, practicums can be the most challenging areas. To overcome this challenge, I’ve observed the school social worker at my current position and have developed a better understanding of the daily responsibilities. I am confident that I will succeed and to be able to help and advocate for students through social work.
Through my experiences, I have come to the realization that I would like to be a school social worker. I have persevered in spite of the disadvantages I had early on in life. I displayed my commitment to social justice, leadership abilities, and have been awarded as Program Director of the Prison Justice Project. Lastly, at Cunningham Children’s Home I learned what it means to be a social worker in a diverse community of children. My experiences have made me certain that being a school social worker is the best decision for my life.
The MSW degree along with my bachelors in psychology gives me a great opportunity to build my career as a social worker who will strive to act as a leader and empower others to help those in need. When I have gained efficient experience and expertise in my role as a social worker, I want to educate others on child welfare and family violence. Sharing knowledge and educating is a boundless way to make an impact and promote resilience within the
Becoming a social worker is dependent on numerous factors, one of which being education. “A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) degree is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker, however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may be sufficient to qualify for some entry-level job” (Chao & Orr, 162). Many people when pursuing the goals of being a social worker, however, are most interested in jobs in public agencies and/or having their own practices. “A master’s degree in social work (MSW) is necessary for positions in health and mental health settings and typically is required for certification for clinical work” (Chao & Orr, 162). One’s level of school is not the only thing employers are focusing on when looking to hire social workers. Along with one’s education, a social worker must have “a broad liberal arts base which includes a knowledge of the social sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, political science, and economics) to provide explanations about the nature of human society and the human condition” (Johnson, 48). There are many more skills that are just as essential, if not more beneficial, to the employer as well as client.
What does it mean to become a social worker? Why was I committing two years of my life to school after renouncing further education? I asked myself this after I applied, waited anxiously for my acceptance letter and scrambled to figure out the finances after I was accepted. I could not have guessed that the first day of the Micro Human Behavior Social Environment (SWG 510) would capture my attention and thrust me into the professional world of Social Work. As I learned more about what it meant to become a social worker, I found myself aligning to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Ethical Standards as reviewed through Foundation Course I’s first chapters.
Putting into words how I feel when I’ve made a difference in someone’s life is almost impossible. It’s something I feel deep inside and very passionate about. Working with geriatrics and terminal patients is where my passion lies. Maybe it’s because of my close relationship with my grandparents. I honestly don’t know. One thing I know…I’ve always loved the elderly. I was always the little girl wanting to visit and talk with them when my friends were off being typical children. Nearing the end of one’s life is a difficult and emotional time for everyone involved, and it’s my desire is to make this transition as smooth as possible. Applying to the social work program is the first step of my journey to achieving my ultimate goal…becoming a geriatric social worker.
... Release statistics show, 66.2 percent of 2012 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities, but only 54 percent graduate from college. Continuing my education is important to me and will open many doors for me. Obtaining my degree will help me be a better person and also help others be better. A direct-service social worker helps people cope with challenges they are facing in their lives. Clinical social workers are therapists who diagnose and then treat individuals who have mental, behavioral and emotional disorders. With that being said, I will have to have full knowledge and an ample amount of education to help my clients. I will have enough education to help a child that just lost both of their parents, help guide that child, and show them there is someone to help them. Just like Anne Franks stated; “No one has ever become poor by giving.”
The main reason I chose the social work profession, manifested early within my stages of childhood. The importance of giving to and caring for those in need, were deeply embedded in my very soul. Being reared by my grandmother, a nurse and by my teenage mother, a psychology student, I was exposed constantly to acts of kindness and generosity. As a result to my empathetic personality, I was welcomed into many social and ethnic groups, not commonly open to a young gay black male. In these younger years with the assistance of my parents, my love for others allowed me to help other teenagers in crisis, often providing shelter, advice, monetary assistance and a listening
My interest persisted and grew as I began to see how my efforts had the ability to improve the lives of people around me. I first noticed this on a personal level as friends would come to me for advice or for me to listen to their struggles and provide comfort. No matter how mundane, horrific, unique, or common the story was, I listened to them in a genuine and non-judgmental manner. I truly enjoyed hearing people’s stories and providing comfort and advice when needed. These moments helped me realize the power of simply being there for someone, and it increased my interest of pursuing a career where I can support those who need it most. I want to become a social worker so I can provide direction to those who may not be able to get it from other sources, just like I have done for various people throughout my life.
"Do not become a social worker. You will not make any money and you will be stressed out all the time." My maternal grandparents were foster care parents from the 1980 's until April of this year. In that time they hosted over 250 children from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. As a child, I spent much of my time at my grandparents house and was exposed to the multiple aspects of the foster care system. I became close with the social workers who came to my grandmother 's house and when it came time for me to make a career choice, they all discouraged me from becoming a social worker. Despite their warnings I graduated with my Bachelor 's of Social Work from Saint Louis University in 2013 and began to work on my Master 's in Social Work in August of 2014.
For years, when I thought of Social Workers, I imagined a person coming into a client’s home and taking their kids away for neglect. Later, I found out that social workers could go into so many dimensions, such as clinical social workers, case mangers, and even administrative positions in agency settings. Furthermore, I realized that I was maturing into an adult. For example, when I began telling people of my decisions to become a social worker, a lot ...