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I first became interested in social work when I took a human rights course as a 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 Through my research, I discovered that community-based alternatives that embody therapeutic philosophies, through emphasizing skills training, counseling, and behavioral programs, can be more successful at reducing recidivism than incarceration (Lipsey, 2009, p. 143). My experience with FFLIC confirmed my desire to be a social worker in order to challenge these social injustices and human rights violations and ensure that vulnerable populations receive adequate services and resources. Further, as a social worker, I will be able to provide much needed therapeutic environments, interactions, and opportunities for underrepresented prison
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
Learning about Edith Abbott has caused me to think more about the way we learn and the way the curriculum is structured, not just for social work but also for every class. Many people have worked very hard to make college what it is today, and we usually don’t even know their name. Edith Abbott changed the way field placement is incorporated into every university in the country. She also believed that social work is a mix of many different majors, which is what we learn today. The way that Edith Abbott spoke out against controversial issues makes me want to become a social worker even more. It’s not a perfect world, but anything I can do to make someone else’s life a little better would make me happy. Making other’s feel good, makes me feel good in return, which is one of the reasons why I chose social work as my major.
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.
Perhaps one of the most versatile and diverse careers is social work, as this career works with individuals struggling with substance abuse, low-income families, and homeless individuals. Social work is a profession that is concerned with solving personal, group, and community relationships (Farley, Smith, & Boyle, 2011). Among some of the most important aspects of social work are the restoration of impaired social functioning, the provision of social services, and prevention (Farley et al., 2011). Reducing problems in human relationships and improving human interactions among individuals are the major focuses of this profession, regardless of which people group the social workers are serving (Farley et al., 2011). Even though it is a relatively new profession, social work has existed in various forms throughout history. However, the beginning of social work’s development as a profession was primarily European in origin, with the ideals spreading to the United States
I think we need to start with discussing what social work is and where it started. Social work, social problems, and the organizations that were developed is an attempt to cope with problems have had almost a parallel history. There are many people who have helped develop more progressive attitudes and programs toward the poor, the mentally ill, the unemployed, and children at risk. Many of the social welfare policies and programs we take for granted occurred quite recently in our history. Social work is an exciting career area that is highly related to psychology. Many individuals earn an undergraduate degree in social work and then go on to their masters. You can do so much with a social work degree. Social worker has a broad range
My interest in social work could date back to senior middle school. When seeing the news reporting primary school students’ life in Guizhou, I found that I have been blessed and I wanted to render back. While everyone was busy preparing for the University Entrance Examination, I tried to persuade all the students and teachers of the third grade to join in donation organized by me to collect clothes and books for children there. I made up my mind to work on it and call for more help. Only when I specialized in Social Work in my undergraduate, did I understand how I can realize my expectations in a systematic manner.
I am interested in obtaining my masters degree in the field of social work because I am passionate about issues of equality and fairness, and want to be in a position to help out in this area in a constructive and meaningful way. Social workers have the ability to make direct, beneficial changes in people’s lives, often the people who need it the most. It may rarely be world-changing on a macro level, but social work, when done right, can have world changing effects, for the better, on the people it touches.
For me, social work is a calling to bring advantages to the disadvantaged and my worldview is informed by my desire to do this kind of advocacy work. Being a foster youth, myself, I can speak to both micro and macro aspects of social inequality in this country. Moreover, my life experience has been both educational and motivating in my desire to pursue a graduate degree in Social Service because I have not only lived within the broken system, but I have also analyzed it through a variety of theoretical frameworks to better understand the problems and their solutions. My most purposeful consideration, the connection between educational services for foster youth and foster youth performance in higher education, has helped me to contextualize my own circumstances and provided me with a unique perspective through which I have been able to develop relevant and applicable solutions.
As a student who began her college career without specific objectives, I never thought I would be writing a personal statement for an application to receive a Master’s Degree in the social work profession. However, I feel now that there is no other future for me than that of offering my education and personal commitment to vulnerable individuals in order to stabilize their lives. After careful consideration of all areas of social work, I have found that my main area of interest is in providing resources and encouragement for individuals with disabilities to gain the freedom to live independent lifestyles without discrimination. My personal goal in this profession is to make every possible effort in assisting these individuals with finding the means to satisfy their needs.
Several experiences have stimulated my attraction to the field of social work. The first step towards my passion to study social work was formed when I was about four. My parents were unfit to raise my siblings and me, which consequently led to foster care. At age four I had no idea that day would lead me on the path of becoming an effective agent for social work. While in foster care, I met some amazing social workers who went beyond the call of duty. My social workers were talented, committed, and hard working. As I became older, my interest in social work grew. I started asking my social workers how do I become a social worker. In so many words, they explained that I have to do well in school, and go to college. While in college, I can major in the field of social work or closely related field. My social workers were my first insight to what a social worker is and what a social worker does. The fact that my social workers were committed to my well-being and pushed me to my full potentials demonstrated their concern for me as well as their ethical commitment. Secondly, are the three premises on which social work is based on. Which are very straightforward. First is that the person or group is important. The person or group has a problem that may arise from many different factors, and lastly finding a solution to help solve those problems so that
When I decided to change my major from Criminal Justice to Human Services, I had no idea how vast a field it is. I can get a degree in many fields in human services. When ask to do this assignment, I was prepared to do a different paper. I was very glad that I did get to do this project instead, because it gave me more insight into what to look for and where I might life if I was not stay to in Medina, New York. At first glance, to me the terms “human services” and “social work” appear to mean almost the same thing. It seemed to me that both fields involve working to provide services to those in need, to help them solve social problems. However, the particulars of work in human services and been a social worker introduce different distinctions
DuBois, B., & Miley, K. K. (2014). Social work: an empowering profession (Eighth ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Ask anyone why they decided to major in social work and you will probably receive an excessive amount of the same answers. “I want to help people.”“I love to work with kids.” “I want to make their life better.” All of those are great answers, but it does not cover the entire question. I feel that if it is the end of the day and you were able to bring a smile across someone’s face then you are doing your job right. If someone chooses to come to you for help in their life, then that itself is an overwhelming feeling. I want to make a difference in a life. I want them to say, “Yes, Chelsey was there for me throughout my hard times and she changed my life into what it is today.” I want to leave my own personal imprint of
When asked to define my own worth, I find it hard to articulate a response. I come from an upper-middle class family. Just as most families share triumphs and tragedies, so does my own: divorce, marriage, birth, and death. Humans all have shared experiences, and my family is no different. The question of worth is often immediately linked to the question of how one person relates to another. Coming from a family like many others, my relative worth is the same as many other individuals. Additionally, if a person were to look at my grades, ACT score, and academic involvement, I would blend into a crowd of incredible, yet similar, individuals. That’s why I don’t believe a person’s worth should be judged by a number on a page or by their circumstances, but by what they can make out of their situations and themselves.
The social work profession is defined as “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (ISFW, ‘Global Definition of Social Work’, 2016).” The definition may be true about the profession but it is more in depth than just that. To me, the profession’s primary focus is to help others through life as much as we can while letting them make their own choices and guiding them. In society, social workers are utilized in many different nonprofit and government roles. They serve the community in many different ways from monitoring parent visits to helping people through mental illnesses. Human beings are so complex and things that happen