Personal Narrative: My Social Work Experience

I am passionate on helping people and making changes in others’ lives. Like I stated before, my mother had been trapped herself in the apologetic emotion for years. The mental burden had made her down. Therefore, I decided to help my mother get rid of the self-accusation, by using the knowledge I learned in the Human Services major. To illustrate, I was telling her that it was not her fault of divorce, and she was not showing me the negative image of a marriage. Instead, I admire her braveness of ending a marriage when it was necessary, especially in the time when people were stereotyping divorced women and at the place where people were being judgmental. Now, her self-blameless has been reduced, and she told me that she was not felt as guilty

The history of mental health in the United States show a robust movement towards the mental healthcare system we have today. Prior to the 19th century, individuals with mental health issues were widely considered to be demonically possessed, thus contributing to the stigmatization of mental illness and the proliferation of poor treatment conditions. However, in the 1800s, there was a dramatic change in mental healthcare in the U.S. The government took a proactive role in treating the mentally ill, leading to the dawn of state psychiatric facilities.

“How can I be good again? I just lost my wife and son in a car accident. There's nothing in life that can cheer me up. I have become an alcoholic who is now jobless.” I said. My Therapist, Dr. Newman, told me “Trust me, Mr. Smith. Only time can heal your wounds if you allow it to. Well, that's the end of the session, and I want to recall the accident that occurred so we can talk about it tomorrow.”

I had such a great day at clinical yesterday. I was finally able to see a vaginal delivery and that entire process. When I arrived in the morning, the mom had just received Cytotec, to help induce labor and ripen her cervix. She was forty-one weeks and zero. Around ten thirty in the morning, she asked for her epidural to manage her pain. We bolused her with fifteen hundred milliliters of lactated ringers to prevent hypotension. Shane was the certified registered nurse anesthesiologist (CRNA) who administered the epidural. It was very cool watching him administer all the needed pain relief medication before he administered the epidural to make sure that it would be placed in the epidural space in the spine. Then administered a small test dose, waited till a few blood pressures were taken, then administered the remaining about through an epidural pump. After the epidural was administered, I was able to administer her foley catheter. I was so happy that I was finally able to place one. I learned a few tricks from Maura (my nurse) as well. She taught me that it was easier to take the top off of the lubricant syringe and to place the tip of the foley inside of the syringe, that way it will not wiggle around and become unsterile. She also taught me to grab from the bottom of the labia and pull up, that way it ensures that I will have a clear entrance to

“I want to live.” She said. She lifted her feet off the small coffee table and set them gently on the floor as she continued to look through me, too interested on the inner workings of her own mind.

I am a Social Worker and community organizer with a 20+ year history of assisting children, individuals, and families from diverse backgrounds in achieving their goals. I am familiar with social media, promoting, advertising, and as well, working with young adults, under-served population and those with HIV/AIDS and other physical and or mental disabilities. I have over 12 years of working with the LGBTQ community, organized, facilitated and hosted various panel discussions and films on race, sexuality, gender, social justice matters that impact our community. I have led several marches for a call to action for unity within our community- the “Unity Walk in the Grove.” I as well, served on the Pride St. Louis Board and Prior President of

There was a point in my life where I had no idea what was I going to do with my life. In July 2014 I landed a job at Garland Independent School District at the Enrollment Center Clinic, as a translator for the social worker. That was also the day that I found my spark in life. I wanted to become a clinical social worker and serve my community. My biggest aspiration is to be able to attend the University of North Texas and get my masters as a clinical social worker. I would be a great candidate for this university because I am committed and highly driven.

Ethics is defined as, “an area of study that deals with ideas about what is good and bad behavior” (citation). As a social worker we must abide by the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics and follow the “rules” and withhold the set of morals and values in practice. Sometimes we are placed in certain situations that go against these values and we as professionals need to become aware of that and act upon them appropriately.

My interest in community service began in high school when I joined Key Club, a community service and leadership building organization focused on volunteer work. As time went on, I became the Junior Board Director, representing and guiding eleventh grade students during volunteer projects. We raised money for ZZ (UNICEF) and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (ZZ), organized social carnivals for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and helped set up and run-walks for March of Dimes and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to name a few. I enjoy volunteering because it gives me a chance to share my many skills while learning new skills and working with people of all

On Monday, January 11 2016 my fall break was over and I found myself back in at internship at Leland elementary. After almost three weeks of vacation time I must say I was not ready for the event that was about to take place that day. Around noon in one of the classrooms I was alerted of the disruptive behavior of some of the students in that class. As I walked in the class I noticed to young ladies in each other faces saying vigor language and within seconds they were fighting.

Going into Social work I had a brief idea of what was entailed to be an excellent social worker. After having known people to have awful experiences, myself included, and those who had great experiences, I came into Social Work with High hopes that I will be the best I can be. However, after two social worker practicums, jobs in the field, and graduating with a social worker diploma, I have discovered that a competent and professional social is much more complex, and challenging (I want a more positive word here) to achieve then I originally thought. What I am learning, is that being a professional and competent social worker requires not only the skills and techniques that are learned through education, but the ability to use theses skill

How do you account for your interest in social work? In your response, discuss paid or volunteer experiences that support your choice of social work as a profession?

The decision to pursue my education in social work at Dalhousie University was not an easy one. While I was growing up, my career choice changed all of them time, but I always knew that I wanted to do something fulfilling, in which I could “help” and support people. My mom was a nurse and always loved helping people; I always figured I would follow in her footsteps, however I learned at an early age that sciences do not come easy to me. Unfortunately, my mom lost her battle to breast cancer when I was eight years old, so I hope that by me helping people socially, rather than medically like she did, will continue her legacy.

Getting interested in the helping profession was not a hard at all. As long as I can remember I have been helping and caring for people. I was always interested in helping, all I had to do was find the field that let me help people. Becoming a social work major was just putting a name to something I had always wanted to do and get paid for it. I think what made me realize that this is the job for me was just thinking about what I do on a daily basis and what I love to do. I love helping people and being there for people, so my interest was always in a helping profession. Also every other profession besides social work would not make me as happy as social work would.