Every time I tell a family member, friend or a stranger what I’m majoring in I get the same reaction: “oh, well you're not doing that for money,” or the look of disappointment that I’m not pursuing my full potential in another career. When did making lots of money versus being happy at your job become more important? I chose to major in social work to help those he needed assist those in need. I’d rather enjoy coming to work getting paid less, than getting paid lots of money dreading work.
Along with not being paid a lot, I would be a millionaire if I had a dollar for everyone who told me “better marry a rich husband.” I feel as this is degrading towards me, it makes me feel that because I chose a low-paying job, I better find someone or I won't make it on my own. Maybe I will find someone who makes me happy, but it won’t matter to me how much he makes. It’s how they treat me and my family that matters, rather than what’s in their wallet.
We social workers don’t want to “rip the babies from their parents,” we provide a child with a safe and loving environment. If that means they are separated from their parents for their own safety, then so be it. There are different circumstances as to why a child is removed from a family permanently or temporarily. Also, there is a wide variety of jobs social workers are needed for. Not every social work major specializes in child services or adoption field.
I know that pursuing this field will be exhausting physically, emotionally and mentally. I’m fully prepared for this because if I don’t try to help these people, who will? So many people give up when times get hard, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge. I’m tired of having people tell me to find another option of line of work. If I’m doing well and so are my clients then there are no worries. I don’t appreciate the lack of confidence I receive from my peers.
I know I’m only one person and I can’t change the entire world. If somehow I can improve one person's life, then I’ve done a good job. Now I would hope that I can help more, but slowly but surely I will help more people who will help others. We live in a cruel world, and people feel like they have no one there for them. I’m going to try and give them all of the advice and help I can provide. I didn’t choose this line of work because I’m just a nice person. I chose it because I am sympathetic and compassionate towards those who need help the most.
I understand that the “social work burnout rate” is very high right now, but that doesn’t mean that will happen to me. The burnout can be caused by different variables depending on the placement of work and the person. If they don’t feel happy in that specific area, then they should try another field and overcome being a burnout statistic. Making sure your mental and physical health is key to have before you help anyone else.
Being a social worker isn’t meant for everyone. Every situation you dive into won’t always follow the textbook's examples. You learn more after you graduate and experience working with different people. If you are considering the field of social work, check to see if your college has it as a major. I recommend taking social work 100, this class is an overview of all of the endless careers a social worker can be. Also, it is a preview of what the next 4 years will be for you, if you choose to major in social work.
The next time you hear a family member or even a complete stranger tell you they want to major in social work, thank them for all the hard work they are about to embark on. It’s not going to be an easy path and us undergraduates realized this before picking our major. I’m ready for what life is about to throw at me. Make sure you aren’t too quick to judge them for what they are passionate about.
