Pursuing in Social Work

Overview

Pursuing a Career in Social Work and Essay

… pursuing a career in social work and how such choice has been affected by my basic personality and life experiences. In performing this examination, an attempt to compare the reasons for my choice with the underlying philosophies of the profession has been made. A review of the NASW ethical code is an important resource in the preparation of this paper.

Choosing one's career is one of life's most difficult decisions. Some make the decision early in life while others wander into adulthood. Others change careers a number of times before ultimately deciding upon their life s work. The influence of others, a personal assessment of one s skills or interests, or even the amount of training or education involved in qualifying for a specific career are all factors that contribute to career choices.

Social work is one of those career choices that little boys and girls grow up considering. Children often envision doctors, lawyers, or teachers, but social work is not usually viewed as glamorous. As rewarding as a career in social work can be, it takes a special type of person and it is not a career for everyone.

For me personally, the choice of a career in social work was a direct result of the loss of my mother in high school. The loss was very difficult and led to a prolonged battle with clinical depression. Through this experience I encountered many mental health professionals, including nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. The individuals who were most helpful, compassionate, and personally involved were the social workers.

This impacted my recovery and confirmed for me what I wanted to do as a career.

The respect and professionalism demonstrated by the social workers I encountered were impressive. They appeared genuinely concerned with me as a person, not just as someone in trouble. They did not approach me with preconceived ideas; they allowed our relationship to develop and then helped me make decisions based on my innate personality. They inspired me to become part of their field of work.

Because of my history and the help I received, I have wanted to assist others. I felt grateful for the kind and competent assistance in a moment of need and chose social work as a way to give back what had been provided to me. I see social work as a means to help people function in society in the best way possible.

Like the social workers I met in high school, I want to help others understand what is going on in their lives.

… pursuing a career in social work and how such choice has been affected by my basic personality and life experiences. In performing this examination, an attempt to compare the reasons for my choice with the underlying philosophies of the profession has been made. A review of the NASW ethical code is an important resource in the preparation of this paper.

Choosing one s career is one of life s most difficult decisions. Some make the decision early in life while others wander about well into adulthood. Others change careers a number of times before ultimately deciding upon their life s work. The influence of others, a personal assessment of one s skills or interests, or even the amount of training or education involved in qualifying for a specific career are all factors that contribute to career choices.

Social work is one of those career choices that children do not automatically imagine for themselves. It takes a special type of person and is not for everyone.

For me personally, the choice of a career in social work was a direct result of my having suffered the loss of my mother during high school. The experience led to a prolonged battle with depression and connected me with many mental health professionals, including social workers, who provided care. The social workers stood out as compassionate, involved, and genuine, which motivated me to pursue this path.

The profession s values of integrity, competence, and the dignity of the individual guide my motivation. The social workers  genuine concern helped me feel in control and inspired me to contribute to the field.