Do You Have What It Takes to be a Social Worker?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong desire to help and serve other people. It was the need to fulfill this desire that led me to the career field of social work. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my life than to fully invest myself in a job that makes a positive difference in the lives of others.
I heard this same sentiment repeated over and over again as I made my way through a four year school that offered a degree in social work. Through the emotionally challenging classes and the stressful internships, it was our love for others and our desire to help that pushed us through to the end. I feel that this inner desire is a basic necessity for someone who would like to enter the field of social work.
Technically, you do not need a four year degree to become a social worker. You can perform social work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, homeless shelters and schools with simply a high school degree. Having a bachelor’s degree in social work, however, allows you to obtain higher paying, more challenging, and more fulfilling jobs that involve more personal relationships with the people you serve. Earning a master’s degree in social work will help you get some of the most well paying and challenging jobs.
True social work can be done on any of these levels; your level of education is your choice, depending on how far you want to go in the field. More important than a textbook education, however, is experience in the “real world” working face to face with people. If you wish to become a social worker, gain as much experience as you possibly can! Volunteer to mentor a teenager or tutor, obtain an internship at a school, or start working for a nursing home.
Being in a setting where you are coming up close with real people and their experiences will help you develop patience and empathy, two vital traits for the field. Most of what I learned and most of the skills I gained a social worker were obtained through hands on experience! I cannot think of anything I’d rather be doing with my life than working with people in a service setting. If you have a heart for people and a desire to make positive change you should look into this field. It takes a special type of person to dedicate themselves to service of others, and we can use as many of you as possible!
