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Social Work Application Essay

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My philosophy in life is to "always love more than you hate." These intense, yet natural emotions have the ability to change the world for the better, or for the worse. Living by this credo motivates me to further my education and career in the social work field.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) lists the field 's core values as service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence (NASW Delegate Assembly, 2008). Unbeknown to me, my life philosophy has always aligned with these values. I aim to give freely of my sympathies, believe all people are created equal, strive to be steadfast, honest, and emphasize the healing power of positive relationships. I find
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Instinct kicked in, however, and I was able to look past the trauma and take immediate action to ensure the safety of a child. Albeit, seeing these extreme abuse and neglect situations are never easy, I understand the importance of self-care and maintaining a positive support system. My strength and resiliency enables me to perform efficiently and professionally in an emergency situation. These attributes, in combination with my personal philosophy, ensure that I am acting as a competent and effective advocate for my clients.
This is not to say that these internal strengths have never been tested. In 2015, I was employed at a residential facility for teenage males waiting to be paroled. My team worked diligently to successfully transition them into the adult world. While many of our clients entered the program motivated and appreciative of the opportunity they were presented, for the majority, this sense of hope did not last long.
I was patronized, called words I have never heard of, and even feared for my safety once or twice. Still, even on the most difficult shifts, I was able to recognize that these individuals were working to break their trauma cycle (Wilson, 1989) and overcome embedded negative thinking. I learned the importance of trauma-informed care (Coughlin, 2013) and how effective positive relationships can be to a person 's treatment (Lambert & Barley, 2001). I have learned the significance of
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