Personal Goals In Social Work

Personal Goals There are many reasons why I chose a profession in the social work field. Some of the reasons why I chose to work in this area stem from my childhood experiences. As a child, I was pretty much on my own, my parents were pretty much absent and I had to take care of myself and sometimes them, I also took care of my siblings. The only teacher I had to encourage me was my 7th grade Social Studies teacher, Mr. Schaal, (he was killed in a car wreck after I started high school) with no guidance, I began to get into trouble. I had to grow up fast, so I always was the “motherly” figure among my group of friends (although I did let them talking me into things).
They always came to me for help and advice. As I have grown people still do, sometimes people who do not even know me that well. For example, I got a job at the Dollar Tree, on my first day the manager took me into the office to fill out paper work, when she told me her whole life story like how her husband cheated on her, it happens all the time. I also have a couple of friends who take care of foster children (mostly teenaged girls). Once a year we would take them on a weekend trip to a cabin and we would have what we called a “girls weekend.” I did not know these girls very well sometimes they were different children each year, however, they always
felt they could tell me anything because they did without me ever asking. I have heard some horrific stories that these girls lived through.
As a young adult, I began to attend church, we would do all kinds of different ways to help people, such as, the Christmas shoe box project, this is where you choose a child’s age and gender and pack it full of presents for children in other countries. We also did a lot of outreach events for the local community. I knew that I wanted to do something with my life that helped others. My friends (the foster moms) brought their foster girls to church and I remember the moment I wanted to help children in foster care, some of the girls were at the alter crying and praying and for us to help comfort them.

As I began to explore what I wanted to do, I realized very quickly I could never work in a field that did not help people such as business. I explored nursing and became an STNA (state tested nursing assistant) I realized very quickly that was not for me. I knew I was always curious about what makes people “tick.” I started my college career at Ohio Christian University and wanted to major in Psychology, however, at this university you had to have an Associate’s degree first and the choices were Ministry (which I did not want) or Business and this is how I ended up at Ohio University. I later discovered that I was more interested in Social Work as opposed to Psychology. In my 20 hours of service, that I completed at Job and Family Services Permanency Department, I met some social workers who help kids. I thought they were amazing people. They came from all walks of life, an older woman who talked about retirement soon, a new mom, a young woman with no children who consider the children in their custody as hers, and a young man. They all got along very well and worked together to help each other out. Lastly, I think that everyone should have compassion for others, I mean who wants to see anyone suffer? I feel that there are enough resources at least in this country that no one should go hungry. As a child, I knew what it felt like to go hungry. I feel that there is enough kindness and compassion to go around, I think with the world we live in all human needs could be fulfilled, I don’t think people need to be nasty and hateful to one another.
NASW Values As stated in the NASW code of ethics, “The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession’s history, are the foundation of social work’s unique purpose and perspective” (socialworkers.org). Some of those core values include: “Service Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems. Social workers elevate service to others above self-interest” (socialworker.org). “Social Justice: Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people” (social workers.org).
“Dignity and Worth of the Person. Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible self-determination” (social workers.org). “Importance of Human Relationships Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people” (social
worker.org). I feel that these core values align with my personal goals. I feel that I am honest, value relationships, treat people with respect and feel that everyone has the right to be happy, have their needs met, and not to be discriminated against. Sometimes, I feel that some of my religious beliefs do not align with social work and I have even questioned my decision to become a social worker. I would never spew hate or discriminate against these populations, but just not necessarily agree. Most social workers and organizations are pro- choice, I am pro- life. I agree that women are entitled to equal rights and have the right to protest for their causes, but I see a lot of hatred among women’s groups towards people who have different ideas or values different from them. I have a pro-life group that I support, (ATTWN) they marched in D.C. this year and consider their selves’ feminist, in the fact, that they feel they are protecting women and babies. The director of this group use to be the director of Planned Parenthood, (Abby Johnson) she now helps people who work in the abortion industry to get out and helps them find new jobs. There are a lot of discussions that come up in class that I do not feel comfortable with and choose not to participate in, and with my experience people like to argue and get mad, I do not like confutation and choose to remain quiet. I have even questioned my decision to attend a public university over a private Christian University. However, I feel that I am strong enough in my faith/ and values to not let that affect work or personal relationships. I have many friends who do not feel the same as I do and I respect their beliefs and values.