The world and society change rapidly due to various events. No one could even imagine that COVID-19 could alter the accustomed order of life. On the one hand, new and unprecedented phenomena emerge, which contribute to overall development. However, some changes can be painful and negatively impact society. Therefore, in the past five years, the world and people changed dramatically, which suggests altering approaches in many spheres of life.
The major change I had to make over the past five years is still not being able to leave the house like I used to. In addition, I began spending more time online because remote study became a so-called ‘trend’. Sometimes, online learning was challenging for me because I could not discipline myself. Furthermore, I was forced to shop online, which is not always convenient, especially when buying clothes or shoes, while it is necessary to try how they fit. Instead of going to some event, I had to stay home and watch movies on online platforms. Although nothing is frustrating about it, I missed my ‘live’ communication and interaction with friends.
I see the world differently pre-pandemic than I did post-pandemic. Before COVID-19, life seemed to have more social interaction. The pandemic brought changed etiquette, such as wearing masks in public, washing hands with water, or cleaning with sanitizer. Although it was possible to accustom to these new rules, COVID-19 locked people at home and increased isolation. Moreover, many suffered job loss and could not have the opportunity to re-train for another job. Some families lost their beloved due to this frightening disease. In turn, it led to mental health problems in many people because they could not communicate the old way or lost their incomes. Furthermore, a large part of the population has developed symptoms of depression or anxiety, which aggravates overall public mental health. When I look at and analyze these consequences, I can sometimes feel stressed because I do not know how to react.
I see the social work educational field changing not only to meet societal demands but also to alter them, making a two-way developmental movement. Like in other educational fields, social work educators seem to attempt to attract the attention of students with reliance on technology. On the one part, the ability to obtain a degree or a certificate without leaving home is relatively convenient. On the other part, this tendency still enhances isolation, and people may feel anxious when it comes to socialization. Therefore, I cannot completely agree with such a change while it has both benefits and disadvantages.
Perhaps, social work professionals acutely perceive the issue of isolation, which is reflected in social work education. There is a significant emphasis on community engagement taking place in the learning process. Social work programs are increasingly incorporating community-based research into the curriculum. It means that students have more opportunities to study communities and, as a result, society, as well as observe the dynamics of their development. Furthermore, it improves the skill of seeing connections between specific factors and particular problems, especially in the new context when people spend more time online. Therefore, I believe that this change is positive because it will help to detect some issues and address them at early stages.
There are particular changes in the social work professional field. As mentioned regarding the educational field, the extensive use of technologies is also related to the professional domain. However, when one compares the effects of technology in the educational and professional fields, one can find more positive aspects in the latter one. Social workers improve their effectiveness of service delivery by implementing online counseling or digital case management instruments. I can agree with this change because it seems to make social work services more accessible. Moreover, this tendency becomes particularly useful while the number of people who need social services grows.
Nevertheless, not all global changes are only associated with technologies. For instance, unequal access to various public services that became highlighted by the pandemic gave momentum to advocacy and addressing policy issues. Thus, social workers are still fighting for reforms in education, healthcare, the legal system, and so further to lift barriers to equality. This situation expanded collaborative partnerships while social workers strive to solve complex problems, which requires the involvement of professionals from various fields. These changes also look positive for me because I believe that interdisciplinary cooperation can help in finding comprehensive solutions for different challenges.
In conclusion, the world has been changing even more rapidly in recent years. Moreover, such global events as the COVID-19 pandemic give an incentive to new developments, though they bear negative immediate and indirect consequences. Each person has felt the impact of the disease in different ways. In addition, social work educational and professional fields are also transforming, and new priorities are emerging. Given this, one can find it challenging to claim that the world is changing either positively or negatively. Nevertheless, it suggests that humankind can be moving toward shaping a new society.