I am interested in social work because this has always been my dream career. I read many magazines when I was growing up, and I realized that the articles that captivated me the most featured social work. News about social workers helping people overcome challenging times warmed my heart. Since then, I wanted a career in the human services industry. I have always known that social work would be my field of study.
My main takeaway from the video is that social work requires a lot of time and effort. One might be quick to dismiss social work as simple, but social workers must possess numerous values, knowledge, and skills to help others (Davis, 2012). To be a good social worker, one must ensure that they possess all three since they are the cornerstones of social work. Another thing that stuck with me is that social workers encounter different clients from various backgrounds. Consequently, they must be willing to learn how to best serve the needs and wants of the client (Davis, 2012). Social work is a continuous learning process, which means that these professionals must be adaptive.
I was surprised to learn that social work can broadly be divided into micro and macro practice. The micro practice focuses on individuals, families, and small groups, while the macro practice pertains to communities, organizations, and whole societies (Davis, 2012). I have always imagined that if social workers can work with a small group, then they can work with society. However, the existence of different specializations shows that social work is not a one-size-fits-all for all clients. After learning about micro and macro social work, I want to work with individuals, families, or small groups because this is the level at which I feel I can make the most difference.
Reference
Davis, R. (2012). The profession of social work [Video]. YouTube. Web.