Introduction
Interest in the Field of Social Work
First of all, I would like to start with the fact that people, as phenomena, have always attracted me, and also aroused a desire to help, if necessary. I know that the Lord watches over everyone and strives to choose his own path for everyone. This can be seen in my own example, as I spent the first half of my life in search of myself and my recognition. Finally, it is thanks to Jesus that I have come to where I belong. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t gone through all the experiences I’ve had in my entire life. There is no greater satisfaction when you see how a light bulb lights up in the head of a drug addict or alcoholic when he realizes that it is impossible to live like this. Separately, it is worth highlighting my interest in communication and interaction with others, which is noticeable in my hobbies. Sports such as baseball or football have always attracted me, not only because of the competitive nature, but also because of the opportunity to observe and communicate with other individuals, getting to know them better.
Previous Social Work Experience
I have been in addiction counseling and therapy for over 7 years. I have a strong connection to the 12-Step Addiction Abstinence Program that has helped millions of people stay sober and recover. My model of care focuses on meeting the medical, biopsychosocial and spiritual needs of individuals and families affected by addiction. I value research-based and evidence-based healing interventions that integrate sciences such as medicine, therapy and spirituality. I am a strong believer in psychosocial interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. I value abstinence from all addictive drugs as an optimal component of wellness and lifelong recovery.
Strengths and Growth Opportunities
It is necessary to highlight the strengths that I have as a social worker. First of all, poise and love for one’s work help to communicate with any individual as efficiently as possible. The fact is that drug addicts and alcoholics are often not aware of their problems, and may also behave incorrectly, perhaps due to their position. Many people get mad because they don’t have the patience, experience, or knowledge about addiction and its treatment. However, there was no situation in which I would condemn or refuse to help someone in need. It is the love of work that gives rise to a specific goal, changing a person, instilling in him new values and worldview. However, I feel a lack of special knowledge and skills that education could give me. It is thanks to this additional academic toolkit that my work would become several times more effective. Finally, thanks to my advanced skills, I will be able to work with more complex examples, as well as help more people in need.
Reflection on Self and Social Work Values
Values and Inspiration
I know that social work has its own values, and it’s a plus that they fit with mine. First of all, it is about mutual respect and equality of all people (Reisch, 2020). This means that for me the age, orientation, gender and race of a particular individual does not matter, but only a specific problem matters. At the same time, I am aware that it is necessary to respect any individual preferences of people, from religion to dietary preferences. This is what inspires me, because I see how many people are truly unique, different from each other and this creates interest. However, they are united and gnawed by certain problems that they need to be rid of. So what inspires me the most is the idea of preserving the uniqueness of different people.
Prejudice
Society is predisposed to prejudices and stereotypes, but any professional must be objective in his field. Social work is no exception, so any prejudice must be removed. This will only interfere, reducing efficiency, discouraging the desire to fulfill professional duty (Reisch, 2020). Realizing this, I can confidently emphasize that I have no prejudice, as I profess the respect and equality of all people. At the same time, I am careful about any means of self-expression, because the uniqueness of the individual is one of the most valuable things that a person has.
Higher Education
Life Adaptation to Stress
It is important to emphasize that postgraduate studies take a lot of time and work, so it makes sense to reconsider your lifestyle and plans in order to combine it as efficiently as possible. First things first, I want to point out that I got my lawn management degree from ABAC in Tifton, Georgia, then came back home and got my bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the University of Georgia. Thus, I already have teaching experience, and I understand how to compile different areas of life. The main priority for me is to get an education that will improve both my qualifications and open up new professional opportunities. That is why my hobbies can be transferred to weekends and not interfere with the educational process.
Success Plan
It is important to note that my main goal is to obtain high-quality knowledge, therefore I have a ready-made strategy for an objective assessment of my academic success. In addition to the classic grades for exams and assignments, I plan to practically apply any learned material in order to improve the quality of my services. It is the comparison of the results of my help to people that will be the main tool for identifying the degree of success of my training. This will also allow timely detection of shortcomings and problems that should be eliminated.
Reference
Reisch, M. (2020). Social work ethics in a changing society. Cognella, Invroporated.