As I think about my life, I realize that over the years I know now what’s important. First and foremost, I value family, my church and friends. I try surrounding myself with positive people who share the same beliefs as I do. I feel that I excel in these areas: attendance, punctuality, and engagement, communication and contacts, demonstrating respect and support in relationships. I work well with all walks of life and cultures. I’m always respectful and supportive of my classmates, professors, faculty and supervisor. Professionally, I need to improve in the area of APA guidelines and issues with writing styles.
My values closely resemble the core values to that of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Service requires social workers to challenge social injustice. Social workers pursue social change, encouraging clients to set goals. Often I volunteer with family and friends feeding the homeless. I feel that this is very important to me to help out in these types of areas. I have an opportunity to encourage and support people that are down on the luck and feeling hopeless and as a social worker, you have to have empathy. Social workers provide advocacy on behalf of the oppressed. As a case manager, I am the voice for my clients who feel that they are not good enough or educated enough to conversate in a public place. As a social worker being an effective communicator is extremely important when dealing with clients and the public. It’s very important to be professional at all times and follow the guidelines of the code of ethics. Often when I’m working with students I state to them that whatever that said in my office is confidential and it will not be shared with anyone, but if it pertains to sexual or physical abuse I’m bound by the law to report it.
Dignity and worth of the person as a social worker he/she has to be open to diversity and respectful toward all cultures. Regardless of what economic background, ethnicity, gender, sex, or culture, every client should be treated with dignity and respect.
To establish a change in communities and help clients to proper we have to be the leaders and sphere head this change, by speaking up for the voiceless and advocating for better grocery stores with fresh fruits and vegetables, better health care and transportation to and from doctor visits and better school systems.
Being in the field of social work, it’s not easy for clients to trust anyone, you have to build trust by being open and honest. The mission of a social worker is to always conduct yourself at all times with the utmost professionalism. If a client feels that you are dishonest the likely hood of you building a long-lasting relationship is slim.
When I’m working with students I try to encourage and empower them to set goals and have values, to be a voice in their community. Because knowledge is power and things change daily. I continually try to expand my knowledge about policy and procedures and social justice to help the population that I work with.
I have faced a lot of challenges growing up as well as in my adulthood, but I’ve always managed to excel with a lot of support from my own family as well as my church family. I feel that with all of my years and experiences of working with kids, families and different organization has enriched me into becoming a better person to be an effective social worker.
Balancing work life and working on my degree has been challenging. I have experienced a lot of stress. It has caused me to reflect on things that I take for granted and helped me to focus on what’s important when it comes to earning my degree.
My strengths are that I can work with any culture, I am a good communicator and I care about the well being all of the people. I understand the importance of being a role model for kids and mentorship. When we plant seeds into kids on power, the importance of having an education and setting goals then we are one step away from improving our communities.
My action plan consists of me continuing obtaining my education and striving to improve in the areas of understanding how to work with the geriatric and pedophiles pop.
