Every holiday, I’m asked by my family what my major is, and every time I say, “social work,” the look on their face says enough. When people think social work, they think I’m not going to make a lot of money. They think social workers take children away from their homes, and that is the extent of their jobs. Like anything else in society, social workers are stereotyped. No one sees what social workers actually provide for us.
When I was younger, I was the girl that asked for world peace from Santa for Christmas. I didn’t want anyone to starve, be homeless, or suffer from any pain. I always wanted to change the world, but I didn’t know how to start. I was one small girl in a big world, and I had no idea social work was even a field of study until I came to college. I was unsure of my major until someone asked “Well what do you want to do?” and I said “I want to help people.” I was then referred to social work.
It's easy to find a job in the social work field, and that’s what I look forward to. Social workers are in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, adoption agencies, mental institutions and many other places. They dedicate their lives to helping other people. When they are stereotyped as only being the ones to take children away from families, I cringe because that is the last thing we want. If a social worker takes a child away from their family, it is because there was no other option, and the end goal is to get the child back to their family once the parent takes care of themselves first. Social work is so much more than its stereotypes: it’s being there for others, volunteering your time, making a difference and being anything but selfish.
I’m a social work major not because I want to make money, but because I want to make a difference. I don’t want to be able to say I made a paycheck; I want to be able to say I helped change someone’s life. I think that is more of a reward than anything else. I like that as a social work major, I can end up in many different fields. I can change what I’m doing entirely and I would still be helping someone in some way. I’ve thought about working with in adoption, mental disorders, women’s rights and the great part is that I could do all of them. I’m not restricted to one type of job for the rest of my life just because of my major.
Also, my classes help me learn things about the world that I never knew were happening. In social work, you learn about what’s happening in other countries compared to ours socially, economically, and politically. It helps you to open your mind up to all of the different ways countries handle their social problems. You’re taught to respect everyone in any situation they’re going through. I’ve gained a lot from being aware of the social problems around me and trying to put myself in the situation of other people.
Being a social work major has made me into a better person. It has given me so much, and I hope to be able to give to others one day. No matter how hard it may get, it's worth it for getting the chance to help others.
