The Journey of A Social Worker
Like any other career path, becoming a social worker comes with numerous challenges that require different approaches to problems and force you to constantly reevaluate the methods chosen to solve challenges. Though the path of a social worker is rewarding, every moment is a learning lesson, and growth is a constant.
What do I know?
I have spent 4 years as a social work student, and throughout that time, I have acquired much knowledge about the field. In particular, I memorized, understood, and applied the NASW code of ethics. Importantly, I spent much of that time understanding the history of social work and studying the field's current implementations. Furthermore, I was exposed to different avenues of social work, such as behavioral intervention, healthcare settings, macro intervention/ various therapies, and assessments, just to name a few. Ultimately, I graduated with a bachelor's in social work in my third year, and I'm currently in my fourth year, about to finish. Even now, I still learn from others and continue seeking knowledge within the field through others and research.
What is Social work?
Social work is a field designed to support those who need to improve their well-being. Many factors are involved when improving the well-being of an individual, and therefore the social work field consists of different sectors. Notably, the field aims to empower those by assisting clients in recognizing resources and support systems to function in society at an optimal level. Furthermore, social workers also aim to combat corruption through ethics and advocacy. This can be seen through political sectors in the field.
Being a Student in Social Work
In many instances, being a social work student is a complex experience that focuses on the relationship between yourself and the field. During that time, you may ask yourself questions like, "is this really what I want to do"? These questions can arise for many different reasons. Eventually, these answers will be found by experiencing the field more through internships and communicating with other professors and students. One of the most exciting parts of being a social work student is absorbing a large amount of knowledge. You will learn the history of social work and the field's core values, ethics, and purpose. Importantly, you will begin to understand that social work is an ethically driven field that seeks to empower other individuals and hopes to establish a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Considering all the factors needed, a better understanding of a problem can lead to a better solution. The amount of social dilemmas is virtually limitless, and problems related to ethics only cover a percentage of the field. You will discover different social work sectors as you progress through the area. Whether in a courtroom, a hospital setting, a clinical therapy setting, legislation, or immigration, social workers are involved in many different aspects of society. One of the challenges as a student is deciding which of these sectors best suit your abilities and interest. Though there is no particular time that one discovers which sector best suits them, it is always advised to explore different opportunities in the field to not only grasp the importance of the area but to understand how these other sectors assist in promoting advocacy, empowerment, and support to those who require assistance.
Another challenge as a social work student is managing how much information you will learn. Whether it be research, diagnostics, or clinical intervention, social work touches on different areas of life and recognizing all of that information can be intimidating. Like any other field, you will experience a learning curve and may need to put more effort and time into specific topics. Additionally, most assignments will involve extensive paperwork, which can be another challenge.
Lastly, the primary challenge I've experienced as a social work student is tying everything together. In other words, you will have to find a way to incorporate your personal life with your academic life while also exploring new opportunities within the field. For instance, one thing you will notice when looking into the field is that there will be many opportunities to learn outside the classroom. This is especially true when you are required to participate in an internship and work a certain amount of hours per week. All of that combined, the issue of time management and self-care must be considered. First, time management is the ability to set a particular amount of time within a day toward numerous tasks that need to be completed. On a single day, this may include paperwork assignments, internships, classroom events, and so on. Ultimately, you will have to find methods to not only keep up with the numerous responsibilities given to you but also need time to take care of yourself, which leads to self-care. Self-care is self-explanatory. It is the ability to care for yourself and ensure you provide yourself with all your necessities. Ensuring you have the energy to perform a task is just as important as completing the task. Overall, you will wear many hats becoming a social work student. There will be tasks and opportunities you never thought you would ever be doing, and that brings a lot of responsibility. By overcoming these challenges, you can establish connections and allow yourself the chance to grow within the field.
How to Overcome those Challenges
First, gathering as much information as possible when tackling any challenge is essential. It is straightforward to be overwhelmed, especially when given significant knowledge. Realistically, it is impossible to remember everything taught to you; however, it is essential to take notes when you can. Finding ways to jot down information as quickly as possible in or out of a classroom is necessary. In other words, utilize your phone as much as possible. Of course, researching a topic is one thing but being able to record information on the spot is just as important. Make sure to take the time to set up a folder or a place on your phone so that you can record information that is told to you. This will be especially useful when you learn new tasks in an internship or communicate with others in the field. Make use of your resources and attempt to find a place to record information online. Much of the information that is told to you when engaging in social work it's crucial. Finding ways to recall that information can be beneficial for the future. Importantly, having a place of knowledge to fall back on is much more important than memorizing what is told to you. The information that should be recorded should include classroom information, possible opportunities to explore, exciting facts about the field, and so on. Even if you think a nugget of information is unimportant, record it anyway and look into it on your own time. Allow yourself to explore different possibilities, even if it is just for five minutes at a time. You never really know what opportunities can come just by looking into the field.
Secondly and most importantly, it is essential to be organized. How you manage the assigned tasks will dictate your success as a social worker. First, make sure to have a place or a space to document what is needed to be done. This can be a physical calendar or an online calendar. Understandably, many have preferences but explore different methods to see which works best for you. Secondly, make sure to have a checklist whenever possible. There are times when a calendar may not be easily accessible, and it is essential to have a list of tasks that need to be done so they can be recorded on the calendar. The easier you can record information, the more likely the job will be done. This applies not only to the social work field but also to your personal life. When talking about self-care, it is essential to ensure that you can eat right. Practice meal planning whenever possible, and ensure an optimal sleeping schedule. No matter how organized you are, you will only be able to strive if you take care of yourself. Lastly, make sure to not overload yourself by giving yourself a few tasks at a time. At times, many become ambitious and attempt to do more than they can. Even when progressing in the field, some of us may feel the need to overachieve and make sacrifices for what we may believe is justified. The reality is it is not noble to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the work that you have to do. Do what you can, and treat yourself right in the process. There will be many instances where you have to realize that you cannot help everyone, but during that time, you have to trust that you have helped someone, even if it is just a little bit.
