Social Worker: Sociology Admission Essay
- What experiences motivate you to become a Social Worker?
My initial motivation to become a Social Worker stemmed from visiting my grandmother when she became hospitalized with a stroke. During this time I realized how lonely patients could become as a result of being stuck in a hospital room all day. After beginning my undergraduate studies in Psychology and learning about the links of mental health and aging, I was confident that my knowledge would be put into good use volunteering with the Hospital Elder Life Program. Being a HELP volunteer, I was able to visit with elderly patients admitted into the hospital for various reasons and help to maintain their mental health, or at least minimize the effects of them experiencing delirium/ dementia as a result of being in a hospital. This experience was novel and challenging at first, being that it was my first time witnessing deteriorating mental health first-hand, but turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences being able to provide these individuals with something as simple as company to put a smile on their faces. This experience was the first to many for myself to follow suit in the Social Work field.
[place-order-2]
I continued to gain experience in the Social Work field obtaining a Volunteer Mentor position with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada. In this position, I was able to gain experience working with troubled youth to provide them the opportunity to gain the confidence to achieve more. I would say this position was more of prevention-based social work program to make sure that the kids are motivated and informed of the importance of education/school, are able to build strong and healthy relationships with role models (mentors), and figuring out where their healthy interests lie.
My most relevant experience that really motivated me to apply to continue my studies in the Social Work field and take on a more managerial (policy government) role was when I begun working as a Support Worker with Community Living Durham North. This was a very front line position, working in group homes and day programs to assist supported persons with day to day activities, to aid them in accomplishing their goals and help them to be as integrating in the community as possible. In addition to this position, I was employed as a 1:1 resource staff to work with children on the spectrum in a play-based daycare setting before and after school. These two positions in combination motivated me to gain additional education to become qualified to take on a more advanced role in order to create and implement programs and processes to better the existing interventions in place. I want to be able to build on my knowledge and experience working as a frontline support worker with individuals experiencing disabilities, to take on a more advanced role in responding to social needs through planning and social policy interventions.
- What are your career goals or aspirations following completion of graduate education in Social Work?
- Discuss how a Social Worker could work with contemporary social problems of interest to you?
- What is your understanding of professional suitability in relation to Social Work? In terms of professional suitability, what do you see as your personal strengths and what do you identify as areas for growth?
Professional suitability in relation to social work can take many forms but the key being understanding your clientele. This takes a lot of patience, listening, education about cultures/beliefs, knowledge of….Continue Reading….