Social Work Application Essay Example

A profound sense of community engendered my commitment to help others. Hence, I contribute to my community whenever I can. Poverty taught me gratitude and strength through the chaos and struggles I faced. Since 2016 I have gained a new perspective on social work, therefore, I am re-applying for the Bachelor of Social Work Program. My original admission statement still communicates who I was, and I will briefly review that as I demonstrate my growth in these past years. 

Absence

I understand that my absence from this program will leave me at a disadvantage, unfortunately, I was unable to continue to pursue my degree in 2016. I underwent several life-changing events in the years leading up to my decision to leave school; I held on as long as I could. I feared like many others that a pause in my education would mean the end of my professional goals. As Covid-19 hit the world, I was working full-time for a Substance Use Disorder Transitional House as an Adult Peer Support Specialist; where I received employee of the month for my commitment and effort put towards protecting my clients while continuing to provide services. I work closely with other professionals in the field of addiction treatment, and I am pursuing my CADCAII under the supervision of Cheryl Shook. It is through the process of becoming a CADC that my supportive coworkers and supervisors have recommended I return to school. 

Development

In one form or another, social work has impacted my life at every stage. Interactions with social work inspire me to work in an environment that embodies growth, development, and community. I have grown through my involvement with various forms of social work in my community, and I want to provide a helping hand in the journey for others. When someone suffers a setback in life, social workers can help to connect to resources and inspire autonomy. It is through my own experiences that I have developed an understanding that will enable me to be patient and considerate in my dealings with others. 

Current.

My education to this point has enabled me to develop my professional confidence and take an active role at work. I fight the stigma associated with “social work” by sharing my experiences as an Adult Peer Support Specialist with others. I connect others to resources as they seek to recover while addressing their illnesses. Additionally, I encourage others to embrace their humility by sharing that success can come from the need to seek help until one becomes strong enough to stand alone.

As I work to enable others to find an inner strength, I am encouraged. My work in the community both professional and personal inspires me to grow every day. I work with others to confront my fears and set healthy boundaries. These same lessons internalized have allowed me to return to school. While higher education can help me professionally, the process of returning to school is difficult and frightening.

My Future.

I thought I had my future mapped out. I had goals with objectives and was driving myself to achieve everything on the most direct path. Since that time, I have learned to accept that my journey in social work may not be so straightforward and as expressed in The Skilled Helper (Egan, 1975) attempting to predict the future can be a wasteful endeavor. Furthermore, I have found strength from my work as a Peer in the field, which pushed me to seek a higher certification. Achieving my qualification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Associate 1 was a momentous success in my journey and was accompanied by extreme delight. I may not know what path I will take as I progress, but it is clear to me that my future is in helping my community.

References

Egan, G. (1975). The skilled helper: A model for systematic helping and interpersonal relating. (L. York, Ed.). Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc.