Strength Of Social Work Students

Part I (Autobiographical Essay):  What were the significant factors that influenced your choice of social work? What skills and experiences do you have that will contribute to your success as a graduate student and social work professional? How is the GCSW a good place for you to build on those skills? 2 pages, double spaced, 12 point font

Social work is a career that finds and chooses you, rather than you selecting it. Social work has always been an immense portion of my life even when I had no recollection of what social work entailed. My life revolved around so many situations that had a social worker stepped in, my life would be totally different than it is today. Many individuals and agencies lack the compassion and empathy for oppressed people. Having been in many circumstances, has given me the experience and background that influenced me to go into social work, as well as the understanding of my role and responsibilities that I will assume as a professional social worker, and my reasons for selecting the program at ASU School of Social Work and thoughts on how the Mission Statement addresses my career goals.

Furthermore, I am extremely interested in attending the Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work for its social work program. I have always been a clear advocate social work as well as policy to be prevalent in our society. The Hunter College Silberman School of Social work is historic in developing effective change strategies at the individual, agency, community, national, and international level.. Moreover, the Hunter College Silberman School of Social work students as well as faculty are fully engaged in policy and practice issues for innovation and change. This essential environment is the foundation that I want to learn and gain professional growth. In parallel, the Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work has a diverse student

While working in W.I.C., I became aware of the need for substance abuse and mental health counseling in western North Carolina. Therefore, in April 2013, through grants offered to veterans, I returned to college to begin my education in social work with a concentration in substance abuse and mental health counseling. I had previously obtained an A.S. in Christian Education and found that the knowledge gained through those classes was foundational and relevant to the social work field.

Experiencing hardships and my resilience to overcome them is the main reason I chose to pursue a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) degree. My familiarity with asking for resources, as a former foster youth, a number of my interactions involved social workers. I utilized resources as a transition aged youth; and I believe it was those same resources that kept me focused on my future and school. I became homeless at eighteen years of age and it was transitional housing, through The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) that gave me hope and direction.

McIntyre informed me that having a Bachelor Degree in Social Work was rewarding; Nevertheless, she wanted to become an inspiring therapist. Therefore, she applied for the master program at Arkansas State University. She was accepted and in the summer of 2014, she started grad school. She did her additional training for the grad school at Day Spring Behavior Health. She was trained in diversity, social work value and ethical, and economic injustice with clients. Afterward completion of 60 credit hours and 400 field hours, she graduated with her Master Degree in Social Work, May 2016.

According to Huiting (2013), a strength approach is fundamental when working with individuals during the recovery process as there is a focus on one’s strengths and abilities, which aids in developing the confidence to embark on the ‘journey of recovery ‘aiding them in overcoming obstacles and challenges, which promotes resilience (Brun & Rapp, 2001).

Over the course of the past few years, I have been very blessed to have professional experiences that reinforced my interest in social work. In 2014, I worked as a guidance counselor and learning support intern at St. Pius Elementary school in Greensboro, North Carolina. In the guidance-counseling department, I assisted with counseling appointments with children in grades K-8. We often discussed topics

Like every human being, the same way I have strengths; Also, I have weaknesses. The weakness I need improvement is my interviewing skills. My interviewing skill is one of the reasons I

Social workers have many personal strengths and qualities that help them within the profession. Strengths based practice focuses on the strengths of the individuals instead of the weaknesses. This is one way the social work differs from other professions because the client does not see the worst-case scenario, but the positive impacts that they have on their situation. One of many strengths that I possess is that I hold confidential information to the highest standard. If a friend or client discloses information that should not be told to others, then I know my boundaries and how their information, if told, could affect their life.

Self-reflection and correction in social work practice is important for continued learning and professional development. Without self-awareness, social workers cannot separate their personal feelings, values, and attitudes from their professional. This is important because we need to focus on the needs of the client, not what we think they need. Knowing how to separate our personal feelings and values from our professional feelings and values will prevent us from getting burnout and help us maintain professional boundaries.

Entry 1 On this module you have explored what might have led you to join the social work profession. Why is it important to think about your motivations for becoming social workers and how might this affect the way you practice? Why is self-awareness important in social work practice? Given your own unique background, what areas of social work might you find challenging and why?

I am learning as I go but I currently am a student conduct hearing officer, speaking with students who have violated policy and disciplining if found responsible with sanctions. Through conduct hearings, I am able to process an array of issues that arise in the residence halls including roommate conflict, alcohol, controlled drug substances, sexual assault, and mental health. I am also learning to delegate tasks and inspire others to stay on track and focused on their goals. I also have felt validated in pursuing my masters in social work, especially in Dr. Norwards Generalist Practice class, during the self-care exercise. I am fascinated how the social work profession validates the social worker and the emotional history they bring to the table. Self-awareness and self-reflection have always been pillars that I wish to incorporate in my everyday and having a program validate this is inspiring. The self-care plan was so transformative for me that I brought them to my staff meeting that I hold weekly for my staff. It was amazing to hear their responses and gain a better understanding of what their going through but also how I can help them manage self-care.

As a clinical social work student, my learning was enhanced after I was reminded that social workers are continuous learners who are always looking for an opportunity to enhancing their competency in the field. As a student social worker, I see my biggest strength is my willingness to learn and desire to become competent in areas of interest. By the end of the eight week practicum, I saw my desire to become competent in my area of practice became my biggest weakness. Stress, frustration, and disappointment were emotions that described how I felt when first exposed the field of health care. I was unfamiliar with the medical terminology and the way the health care system was conducted.

In their article, “The Integration of Personal and Professional Selves: Developing Students’ Critical Awareness in Social Work Practice”, Jay Marlowe, Cherie Appleton, Shirley-Ann Chinnery, and Stuibra Van Stratum (2015) interestingly explored the concepts of self-awareness and use of self at the stage immediately prefacing the career level. Focusing on third-year social work