Personal Statement and Value Clarification
Overview of the NASW code
The NASW code of ethics is a compilation of policies that all social workers are expected to follow in their duties. It shows the social worker’s commitment to their profession. It also helps them in upholding their professional values and well as to act in an ethical manner. The code is essential in the social work profession because it guides a social worker in settling the ethical dilemmas. For instance, in cases where the professional obligations conflict with ethical concerns, then the social worker can consult the code. It helps the social worker to be professional always as it identifies the core values on which the mission of the social work is based.
Why I became interested in social work and why I chose social work as a major
I became interested in social work because it’s a profession that one can make a difference in the community. I have always wanted a career that I can make a difference by pulling the community together and helping people to find solutions to the social problems that they may be having. I have seen social workers help my family in settling various disputes, and I felt I would also like to make such a difference. I chose the career as a major because I want to achieve the skills that can help me to make a difference in the community. I want to be equipped with both knowledge and skills that will help me when dealing with people. Social workers tackle factors that affect people’s situations. Therefore, with skills, I can be able to help people tackle their issues and really make a difference.
My personal values and what influenced me to form them
My personal values include love, integrity, perseverance, achievement, happiness, peace, and respect. I believe I am a loving person. I am kind to people I know and those I don’t as well. I like establishing trust, and I don’t like people who cannot be trusted. I am also compassionate and selfless. I also believe I am a person of integrity. I like to make wise decisions; therefore, I do a lot of evaluation before arriving at a final decision. I also like to be honestly true to myself and others around me. I am responsible and reliable, especially when I commit myself. I like to promote justice, as well. I like being happy and contented with what I have as I work harder to achieve more. I love people who respect me, and therefore I also like to give people the respect they deserve. My social values are most influenced by my family background and the society that I am from. My parents have raised me to believe in loving and respecting people. I have also learned the importance of being true to me and others because honesty and trust help to create good relationships with people.
Identifying the values that will help me pursue a career in social work
I believe love, perseverance, integrity, and respect will help me to pursue a career in social work. I will be loving to my patients and clients; in a professional way, of course. I will show them kindness and will also establish trust with them. I believe in cases like therapies. One has to get ta patient to trust them for their conditions to improve. Showing empathy and compassion will also be needed because people who require social work services have problems in their lives. They most likely have stress issues and require someone to understand their situation. I will also respect each and every one of my clients despite their ethnic background or social status. I will be just and fair to them. My integrity value will allow me to make good decisions when tackling clients. Social work expects social workers to be ethical and professional every time. Therefore, I will use my integrity to ascertain that my deeds are professional and also do not cross the ethical boundaries.
Discuss how your values fit with social work values; for example, what are the similarities or differences.
The six values of social work include service, social justice, dignity, and worth, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. My personal values, in one way or another, fit with social work values. Social workers are expected to be selfless; they have to make the needs of their clients a priority to their needs. They have to use their skills and knowledge to help the people in need. This directly relates to my love value. By loving others, I will be able to prioritize their needs. I will be able to be compassionate and empathetic with them so that I can understand them from their perspective. The loved value involves being selfless and kind to these people and avoiding judgment.
Social workers are expected to be just; they should stand up for the voiceless and weak. They should promote equality and avoid cases of discrimination. They should be advocates of the poor, the homeless, the sick, etc. this also relates to my just value, where I like to treat everyone equally and give them the respect they deserve even if they are from a different social background from mine. Social workers are also expected to promote the dignity and value of a person. Everyone is different and has different cultural beliefs. A social worker identifies such beliefs and respects people for whom they are. They don’t have to make people feel inferior for who they are. Their role is to help one and not to judge. This value directly relates to my value of respect and just. I respect people regardless of their cultural beliefs, and I also like it when they respect mine. A social worker is also expected to perform their duty in integrity. They should also build human relationships with their clients as it helps to solve the problems faster. Lastly, they should show competence in their work. As describes above, integrity, and establishing trust is among my values. As for competence, I have taken a major in social work so that I can gain skills and knowledge to handle social work.
Afterward, explain how you feel your values and the profession’s values will influence your role as a social worker. Include in your discussion the six core values and principles of social work.
The six core values and principles of social work and my personal values will influence me to be a better social worker. The first thing I will do is love my career because when one loves something, they will be able to push through even a hard time. I will also be loving to my patients and clients. I will be selfless towards them, putting their needs before my interests. This will help me to offer services that are of quality and customer-centric. My goal will be to assist my clients in solving their social problems. My values will also promote social justice, ensuring that I stand up for the weak and poor. I will promote equality by avoiding discrimination of all kinds. Respecting people will also help me promote the dignity and worth of my clients. I will accept my clients as they are regardless of any differences in beliefs and social class.
As a social worker, I will recognize the importance of the human relationship. I will establish trust amongst my clients. The trust will help me excel in my work because it is only when a client trusts me that I can be able to understand their problems and help them. Integrity also will also help in promoting trustworthiness with clients. Through integrity, I can uphold my professional values and standards. I will also be responsible for my actions, and al is aware that my clients rely on me for help. I will also take full responsibility for my actions and mistakes. All these values will help me to show competence in my work.
Discuss the client(s) that you feel may be problematic or difficult for you to work with and explain why it might be difficult for you to work with this (these) clients
Violent and abusive clients could be difficult to work with. Personally, I like being patient with someone to open up to me, but I do not like a person who keeps hauling insults at me or trying to beat me up. I prefer clients who are calm so that communication between us flows, and I am able to help them as I should. Since I like to establish trust and respect with my clients, I may not be able to work with such a client because clearly, there will not be any respect established between us. Also, I will not be able to establish trust. The only way to solve such a dilemma is to not give up on the client. Perseverance is a key value in social work. I will not argue or challenge the client. I could try to calm the client down, or I can just give him/her time to rant and get it over with. If my strategies do not work, then I will be forced to ask for reshuffling or reschedule for meetings when the client is calmer.
What personal strengths do you possess that will be useful to you as a social worker?
Active listening, empathy, and effective communication are the three personal strengths that I believe will help me out as a social worker. I have the patience to listen to someone. I have had friends who like to come vent to me, and it has really helped them. Active listening will help me to understand my clients’ problems, and seek means to help them out. I am also empathetic. I like to put myself into my client’s shoes because I believe it is the only way to understand what they are going through. I also believe that I know how to communicate effectively with my clients. This involves listening, talking when the need is, being empathetic with them, and also using simple and understandable language.
What are your limitations/weaknesses? How do you plan to improve in these areas?
My weakness is that I have zero tolerance for violence and insults. I do not appreciate someone who thinks that my work is not worth any respect. I cannot tolerate a person who is abusive because they will make me angry, too, and as a social worker, I shouldn’t be angry at my clients. Naturally, I am very social, and it is both a weakness and a strength. I can be too over-friendly with my clients, and that’s how I am able to establish trust. However, it could lead to tricky situations when clients actually think that I am interested in an intimate relationship. They will then start seeking favors in exchange for intimacy, and that is not how I will want to work. At times I am also quite impatient, especially if the client does not want to be open, and I feel like they are just wasting my time. I will try to master the art of patience by listening to a client even if they are in a bad mood.
What are your career goals after graduating from Jackson State University?
After I am done with school, I aspire to get into the field; therefore, I will look for a job in a hospital, nursing home, or clinics. I want to build my experience in social work. In school, I have gathered a lot of knowledge on social work duties, and am now ready to implement them in the real world. I want to meet different clients and social workers as well so that I can learn from them. I also aspire to further my education; I want to achieve a master’s degree in social work (MSW) to increase my job opportunities. I will be working and still studying. That means I will have to be very enthusiastic to maintain balance. If time allows, I will also get a doctoral degree in social work. Mine also aspires to become a licensed worker; therefore, I will have to perform 3000 hours of supervised fieldwork. This I will do before I start furthering my education because working part-time will take longer than working full time.
What experiences have you had, which makes you feel that you can work effectively with
people from diverse populations reflecting religious, racial, ethnic, physical challenges, socio-economic, gender, and sexual orientation differences?
To begin with, I was raised in Florida, which is a state with diverse communities. In my neighborhood, there were black Americans, Asians, and even migrants. I have grown up to know that everyone is equal, and there is no color that is more superior than the other. Through interacting with my neighbors, I have come to learn that we are all the same, suffering the same problem and enjoying the same things. We are all equal. I have friends from different cultural backgrounds. After joining the campus, I also came to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. Also, I came to meet people with diverse sexual orientations. At first, I was so judgemental as I did not understand why one would like to change how they were born, but after coming to know them, I realized that they are all in pursuit of finding what makes them happy. I came to accept them as they are, and so long as they respect me, I don’t really mind them. My school and growing up experiences will help me in working with people with differing beliefs.
References
National Association of Social Workers. (n.d). Read the Code of Ethics. retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/about/ethics/code-of-ethics/code-of-ethics-english
Tulane University. (2018). Social Work Values and Ethics. retrieved from https://socialwork.tulane.edu/blog/social-work-values
In Grobman, L. M. (2019). Days in the lives of social workers: 62 professionals tell “real-life” stories from social work practice
Banks, S. (2012). Ethics and values in social work.
King, E. (2011). Social Work interview questions and answers. Retrieved from https://socialworkinterviewquestions.com/what-do-you-consider-to-be-your-strengths-and-weaknesses-as-a-social-worker/
Dhavaleshwar, Chidanand. (2016). The Role of Social Worker in Community Development. International Research Journal of Social Sciences. 5. 61-63. 10.2139/ssrn.2854682.