Five Reasons Why Being a Social Worker Rocks!
For an individual who is not in the profession of Social Work, it can be hard to understand what drives someone to enter such an exhausting, under-recognized, and demanding profession. While there are more reasons than the five listed below, we hope this provides insight as to why we love what we do, and why we celebrate being a Social Worker.
1. We possess a skill set to rival all other professions.
As Social Workers, we find people are confused by our profession and what we actually do– and there is validity to the confusion one experiences when they hear “social work”. Society has an image of a Social Worker being one who works for Child Protective Services (CPS), placing children into foster care. Although, there are Social Workers who do, in fact, work for CPS and have historically been involved in the removal of children from their homes, there is more to Social Work than meets the eye.
Social Workers bring a vast skill set to the employment sector which does not include taking children away from primary caregivers. In fact, one could argue (and we often do) Social Workers have the most comprehensive skill set of any other profession.
As Clinical Social Workers, who work in mental health, our primary day-to-day focus is promoting well-being of individuals, groups, and communities relating to their mental and emotional health. Although a majority of our focus is spent providing evidence-based practices in the therapy world, our education allows us the capability to do much more. Our skill set branches out to public and social policy, grant writing, program evaluation, non-profit management, case management, research, community development, effective leadership, human development, systemic oppression, racism, prejudice, cultural competence, and societal equality.
Every single skill set mentioned above is used on a daily basis when supporting individuals, families, and community members when they walk into our office. (Pretty awesome, right?)
2. We go where others dare not to.
The role of a Social Worker is not glamorous. We wake early and arrive home late, often neglecting our own self-care at times for the sake of others. We find ourselves having the conversations others do not want to have with those we serve. We find ourselves in a run down neighborhood because those we serve cannot afford transportation to our office. We find ourselves being the first line of defense in situations we have no idea how to help patients with.
This is not meant to scare you; we love this part of our job because our job is not really about us– it is about the person or people in front of us that we are supporting and meeting them where they are at. We go into sessions and meetings with the ambition we are going to help someone who is at a disadvantage in life advances and social mobility. We role model the idealistic principle of our society– neighbor helping thy neighbor.
3. We understand you and we believe in you.
We believe in you. We believe there is good in you, even if you cannot see that yourself. During a therapy session, we sit in the chair opposite you without judgement, accepting you just as you are. This is something you may never have experienced before. It doesn’t feel comfortable at first, but you start to believe you matter– that you have something to bring to the table.
One of our core values as Social Workers, according the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics, is “Human Dignity and Worth”. We understand your value and worth as a human, regardless of your age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. We value and accept you as you are, with no obligation to change.
Is this an easy feat? Of course not; we come to the table with our own set of values and morals which may conflict with yours. However, this is not about us– it’s about you. We gain a level of self-awareness to identify and address our biases and set them aside so we can serve you with the dignity and respect you deserve.
4. We are the behind-the-scenes stage crew.
We remove ourselves from the equation, and as a result, we are able to go where no one else is willing to go with the person sitting across from us. Social Work is not about the profession, it is about the people who receive services from those who call themselves Social Workers. Often our role is to connect people with community resources. Sounds easy, huh? Well, when it is 4:00pm on a Friday and an individual shows up looking for help because they are homeless, lacking natural supports, have no money, and no place to go. Do you kick them out at 5:00pm and wish them well? Absolutely not. Our passion to help others keeps us from getting a quality nights sleep when we know people we are working with do not have their basic needs met.
So, we get to work behind the scenes, making phone calls, contacting community partners and people we have met along the way that we have built relationships with. We use our “I owe ya one” to help support people in a time of need. There is little recognition for the compassion needed and time spent working to just get someone through the day, to tomorrow. We provide hope. We provide one more chance.
5. We make a difference.
Without question, social work is undeniably stressful. Burnout is real because of the hours, the energy, and the lack of compensation for doing what is required. However, those who chose the social work profession know just what IT is that keeps them in the game. We make a difference, every single day. We help those living in poverty, people who are battling addiction, victims of sexual and domestic violence, and so much more. Every day we have opportunities to help others. That is what we live for. Whether it is with one individual, a family, or an entire community or network of people; Social Workers advocate. They stand up for and support those in need — and boy, is it worth it. Every time someone reports their days of sobriety, success with leaving an abusive relationship, or a legislative bill is passed to take down societal barriers, Social work is rewarding.We make a difference.