Prompt:
How did you become interested in social work? What relationships or experiences - personal, educational or professional -caused or confirmed your interest in this profession? What indicated to you a need for professional education? What is your understanding of social work? What has contributed to your understanding of and desire to work with disadvantaged groups? What groups or issues would you find challenging?
Discuss those personal qualities and abilities you feel will be helpful to you in the social work profession. What do you currently see as your strengths and areas for improvement?
Discuss your professional interests and goals. Indicate which fields of practice, client groups, and special social problems interest you and why. What contributions do you hope to make as a professional social worker?
I was going to be Willy Wonka for a living. My post-graduation plans consisted of moving to Oregon to work for The Hershey Company and selling chocolate by the tons. I was on a plane to the final interview in Los Angeles when it occurred to me-I hate sales. I returned home without a job and lacking a plan. I looked to my dad for direction and he asked me, "If you could learn about anything, what would it be?" My response: "drug addiction."
I grew up in a community of social structure and racial boundaries, but what I have learned through experiencing my father's alcoholism, is that addiction knows no social hierarchy. Alcoholism has been one of my greatest teachers and motivators. The disease was my inspiration to pursue my bachelor's degree in psychology, and my motivation to work at XXX. I never considered social work as a career until I accepted a position at the drug and alcohol treatment center. Through my relationships with XXX clients, my eyes have been opened to the oppression and social deficits they face in their communities. The severity of the problem is exhibited by the women's children: from birth, they are already at a disadvantage. The mothers are eager to participate in counseling, but they often worry their financial, health, and housing concerns will overshadow their interest in resolving internal issues. The need for social workers has been made blatantly evident by these women; I know it is my only option as a career.
Through my employment, I am often reminded of my limitations as an unlicensed professional. I am able to assist with housing, financial and material concerns, but I am unable to provide counseling and guidance. In the absence of my clients' counselor, they often look to me for assistance. Without a professional degree, I am less equipped to serve these clients at the level I know they deserve. In order to increase the impact I have on my community, I need to obtain the skills necessary to be an effective advocate and leader.
Social work isn't the act of dragging people through the system. Social work is about empowering a community through education and counseling relationships, fighting for equality, and creating social change. Working in the family unit at XXX has afforded me the opportunity to see social work provide clients with a new life. The women are trapped in a cycle of drug abuse and criminal activity. As a Case Manager for the ZZZ grant program, I am able to help stop the cycle. We provide the clients and their children with a variety of resources ranging from parent coaches to financial support. When a client successfully completes the program, it is a rewarding experience for all parties involved. I know the clients are leaving the Drug Court team with tools to form a self-sufficient lifestyle.
In addition to my experience at XXX, I have had the opportunity to participate in several mentoring relationships. As a Peer Counselor at YYY, I am able to be a mentor to women who have unplanned pregnancies and are at a loss for how they will successfully parent their unborn child. As a volunteer with this organization, I have learned about grant writing and how a non-profit can successfully serve a community. My experience at YYY has been a great tool in teaching me the effects of social deficits, but more importantly, it has taught me that we have the ability to eliminate oppression one person at a time.
Through my professional experiences, I have encountered many clients who are successful in manipulating social services. Witnessing people deplete resources other families desperately need is gut-wrenching. My personal devotion to honesty and integrity leads me to great frustration when I know a client is trying to 'beat the system' without any regard for their peers. It is difficult to serve individuals who have no interest in improving themselves or the life they could provide for their family.
The ability to work well in a stressful environment is one of my greatest strengths. I enjoy multi-tasking, and I often perform better in chaotic conditions. I tend to be a calming entity in heated situations, and I believe this stems from the patience and understanding I offer to the people I serve. Working with crisis populations can place you in a whirlwind of emotions, but the success of handling emotional stress is an essential quality I strive to maintain.
The ability to speak up and express myself is another quality I know will help me in the field of social work. When I am confident in the message I want to convey, my voice is always heard. I am a reserved person by nature, but if I feel the need to speak up for justice, I welcome the opportunity. 'Friendly, but firm' has always been my motto, and has contributed to my success in positions of leadership. Social workers have the ability to be an active force in the fight for equality, and I know I would be a valuable contributor.
Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, I too, have an entrepreneurial spirit. This quality encourages innovative thinking and will support my desire to have a hand in program development. The combination of creativity and self-motivation will be an asset in the fight to assist under-served populations, and I look forward to the day when I am able to lead an organization in developing creative community resources.
The areas I need to improve upon involve my obsession with perfectionism, and my desire to control my clients' success. While I am able to accept variances in strategy, I find myself unusually bothered by other people's disorganization. I sometimes become so irritated by the lack of efficiency--I lose sight of the bigger picture. The desire to watch my clients succeed, leads me to helping them cross every 't' and dot every 'i'. By taking control, I am forfeiting the opportunity to teach life skills and self-motivation. I have made a conscious effort to improve myself as a professional and allow the women to take ownership of their futures.
Breaking destructive familial cycles is at the center of my pursuit of social work. Women are often dependent upon relationships for financial support, leaving them and their children vulnerable to unhealthy living arrangements. My experience at XXX has reinforced my interest in chemical dependency, but on a larger scale, it has inspired me to focus on women and children. Providing support to women affected by drug addiction and domestic violence is a goal I attribute to my experience in the family unit at XXX. I have seen the direct effects addiction and violence have on the children involved, and I hope to actively assist in the cessation of this cycle.
Parental decisions often have great influence on a child's future, but by inspiring our youth to take ownership of their decisions, we are able to deter future generations from familiar social patterns. As a Case Manager, I have discovered a common thread among my clients: most, if not all, grew up as members of the at-risk youth population. Starting interventions at an early age is a concept in which I find great value. Developing self-efficacy through community programs and mentoring relationships can empower our youth to be successful, contributing members of society. Helping adolescents resolve internal and external challenges has been a lasting interest and a goal I hope to see through to fruition.
Addressing problems using a holistic approach is a technique I practice in my personal life and a skill I hope to carry over into my professional career. The health of an individual involves not only the body, but also the mind and spirit. I have a deep interest in Wilderness Therapy and the opportunity it provides us to examine ourselves in the context of a greater picture. I hope to establish myself as a social worker who focuses on improving people as whole while successfully integrating them into society. Social work is not for the faint of heart, and I look forward to the professional and personal challenges ahead.
First of all, I would cut the whole first paragraph. The whole rest of your essay sounds serious and professional. I actually tell a lot of people to cut the first paragraph, as many are written before the writer has a clear idea of what they want to say. The paragraph is fine, but not quite in tune with the rest of your essay, which is excellent!
I grew up in a community of social structure and racial boundaries, but what I have learned through experiencing my father's alcoholism, is that addiction knows no social hierarchy. ---Well said.
The severity of the problem is exhibited by the children of addicted mothers : from birth, they are already at a disadvantage.
The mothers are eager to participate in counseling, but they often worry that their financial, health, and housing ...
Social work is about empowering a community through education and counseling in relationships, fighting for equality, and creating social change.
I know the clients are leaving the Drug Court team with the tools needed to form a self-sufficient lifestyle.
...I am able to be a mentor to women who have unplanned pregnancies and are at a loss as to how they will successfully parent their unborn child.
As a volunteer with this organization, I have learned about grant writing and how a non-profit organization can successfully serve a community.
