In Week 5, you focused on revision, re-thinking and re-seeing the ideas in your paper. This week, you will proofread and edit your Career Narrative Essay draft. All of your big decisions should be mad

Reflective Essay on "Empathy in Action: My Path to Becoming a Social Worker"

Desiree Harris

ENGL-1030

Professor Michelle

September 29,2024

Reflective Essay on "Empathy in Action: My Path to Becoming a Social Worker"

In my journey to become a social worker, I was inspired while volunteering at a local shelter. A unique encounter occurred: a mother struggling to feed her children during a severe financial crisis. Witnessing her situation opened my eyes to the social issues that many families face and changed my understanding of justice and the role of social workers. I chose to begin my narrative with this personal story because it exemplifies the essence of what makes me passionate about this field. By relating stories from my own life, I hope to make it easier for readers to empathize with and comprehend the difficulties that people confront while trying to get support. It was this initial connection that served as the foundation for my dissertation, which focused on the transformative ability of social work in terms of satisfying the needs of individuals.

The body of my essay has a coherent structure. I outline my objectives as a social worker and conclude with the abilities and accomplishments I have acquired. For example, I talked about my internship in a non-profit organization that deals with counseling of at-risk kids and one outreach program that helped over fifty families. These are examples of my personal development and continue to shed light on why effective communication and organizational skills bear paramount importance in this industry. In addition to coordinating food and employment for families, I was able to demonstrate these skills and highlight their importance in the real world.

However, the skills can be strengthened with more examples. For example, describing specific situations where effective communication has helped resolve family problems would enrich the explanation here. Also, social work is fraught with problems in managing client stress, especially in a difficult environment. This reflection supports Lane’s (2023) assertion that one has to change in order to meet new emerging realities of society. Concrete examples of difficult situations I have encountered in my work will provide me with an understanding of my problem-solving skills and patience. Discussing specific challenges will help readers understand the emotional and spiritual aspects of this work and show my development in overcoming these challenges.

My passion for social work is reaffirmed by the fact that I conclude by highlighting the importance of finding solutions to problems on both the micro and the macro levels. I would like to broaden my concluding remarks by incorporating a brief statement about the future of social work. This will complement the discussion of aspirations and goals that are highly ambitious. This addendum will discuss changes in social work that are necessary in order to respond to changes in society, and it will also provide the readers with a sense of hope.

Overall, this reflection is a positive reflection of my journey as a social worker. By engaging with specific experiences and developing connections between personal narratives and broader social issues, I aim to better understand my passions and thoughts in this area. This thought process has allowed me to understand the complexities of social work and reaffirmed my passion for advocacy for those in need and promoting justice. I look forward to continuing to grow my education and skills, knowing that the path ahead will be challenging and rewarding.

References

Lane, D. (2022). Social Work Education and Practice Learning at a Crossroads: Challenges. Practice, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503153.2022.2094905