Jicil Macalandag September 26, 2022

1. As a social work student for the past 1 year, how would you explain your experience and
understanding of why social work is very important today?

Being a social work student for about a year now, I have realized that social workers play a vital role in
our society. Personally, I think social work is a broad and diverse profession that provides a variety of
settings, roles, and services to those who share the common value of assisting those in need. As biased as
this may sound, I am unaware of any other profession that is as involved in addressing human needs
across the life cycle and in so many different ways. From birth to death, social workers are available to
provide the critical support that anyone may require at any time. Furthermore, we play a variety of roles,
ranging from therapist or clinician to administrator and policymaker in a variety of settings, including
healthcare, schools, community centers, juvenile probation, hospice, behavioral health, and early
childhood development, to name a few.

In social work, it is critical to identify an individual's strengths and assets. To do so, you must first establish
a relationship with the individual. We humans rely on relationships to survive and thrive. Early
attachments formed in relationships with others help nurture us emotionally when we are born. These
connections are crucial in shaping the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, some people have insecure
attachments and have little trust in others. During the initial contact, social workers must identify areas
where there is a need and work on developing trusting relationships and rapport. Our role is one of
interdependence, and relationship building is essential. When relationships do not form or are broken, it
has a negative impact on the individual and, in most cases, the social worker. It is important today
because, as we continue to promote a person-centered, empowering approach to our practice at all
times, as well as complement and strengthen the roles of others across diverse professions, our history
demonstrates the critical ongoing need for social workers to advocate for and lend a voice to all
marginalized and oppressed groups.

2. What are the things you learned so far?

First and foremost, I get to understand what social work is and what a social worker does. A social worker
is someone who works with individuals and communities to help them function better in daily life. They
may work with individuals directly at times, but they are more likely to work in organizations such as
health care or social service facilities, schools, universities, police departments, correctional facilities,
community centers, and other settings. Their goal is typically to improve their clients' quality of life by
working to change the social conditions that affect their clients' ability to function in society. Social
workers create, implement, and evaluate various programs related to the delivery of social work policies.

I learned a lot of things from the previous lessons, but from what I can recall, communication is a very
important skill that a social worker must have. Communication is one of the most important tools for
connecting with others. Proper communication can assist you in resolving a variety of issues and
problems. Therefore, it is essential to be able to communicate effectively. Communication skills must be
developed so that you can interact with others and be able to communicate with them and share your
ideas. All of this necessitates proper guidance as well as self-analysis. Social work is unquestionably at the
top of the list for those who need to have good communication skills. Empathy, communication, patience,
and critical thinking are just a few of the social work skills required. Excellent communication skills are
essential in professional relationships that necessitate compassion. That is why social workers need
communication skills. In fact, communication is essential in any occupation. 

We also have successful communication that allows us to better understand people and, as a result,
situations. It aids in the celebration of differences as well as the development of respect and trust and
creates situations in which problems can be solved and creative ideas can be shared. It is important in the
helping process because, in that way, we can address the problem, talk to the person calmly, and assess it.
without hesitation because you’ve understood what they said and they communicated to you. Without
good communication skills, it may lead to severe consequences. In addition, poor communication skills for
social workers can contribute to the harm and lack of care for clients.

Overall, communication is at the heart of social work practice. Effective communication skills are an
important aspect of the social work profession. Social workers interact with clients to gather information
and knowledge. Another important skill that a social worker must have is the ability to listen. The bottom
line is that a good social worker must use their communication skills to provide the most efficient
services. and counsel. Your role as a social worker is critical because you are the person who can
communicate clearly with all parties and persuade them to agree. As a result, a successful societal
contribution.

Social work is a diverse field that can be found in a variety of settings. Individuals, couples, families, and
groups of people are helped by social workers in clinics, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities, home
health care, hospices, social services, and other settings and services. Because of the variety of roles
these professionals play, there are certain social work skills that each practitioner must possess, such as
empathy and active listening. Empathy is essential because it allows people to put themselves in the
shoes of others and feel what they are feeling. This ability to identify with someone's situation, including
his or her intellectual, cultural, and emotional state, is essential in social work to develop an
understanding of that person and assist in the resolution of his or her problems. The same is true for
active listening because social workers who listen, stay engaged, and can recall information are able to
build trust with clients and a therapeutic relationship with them. Active listening makes clients feel good,
and it also allows social workers to gain insight into the client's situation and point of view. Furthermore,
without practical communication skills for social workers, one will be unable to: discover what service
users, careers, or other professionals seek; produce the type of data others require; correctly check
complex situations; and negotiate, intervene, or mediate authoritatively, sensitively, and appropriately.

3. Why do you still choose social work? What are the things you look forward to this course?

Now that we are still in a pandemic, people need someone who they can talk to, and I want to be that
person. Social workers are becoming less focused on solving problems and more focused on “primary
prevention,” providing interventions ahead of time to prevent problems from occurring in at-risk
populations. I want to be the person that will help people whenever they need someone who they can
ask for help. That is why I still choose to be here. I am looking forward to this course being able to help
me gain more knowledge and skills that will help me be a better social worker.

4. Who are you before taking this course?

Before taking this course, honestly, I did mind the people around me because I am an observer type of
person, but I am kind of shy. So, it looks like I only care about myself because I am always afraid and do
not know how to communicate with people, although I really want to ask them and help them. Not until a
pandemic happens. There is a lot of news about people who committed suicide, and the number of
people who were stressed, depressed, and suicidal went up. It was very alarming for me because, as a
mother, it hurts. I got bothered by the news and it got stuck in my mind, so I started thinking about how I
could help those people, and I heard about this course. I immediately researched what this course does
and how it helps people, and it got me so excited because I will be able to learn how to communicate with
people.

5. What are your interest, some interesting information and whereabouts and who are you
before and in the present after taking the course after 1 year?

I am a full time worker and also a mother. I do not think I am a very interesting type of person, but I do
play mobile games like Mobile Legends Bang Bang and I do some Tik Tok videos for fun. I did not want to
meddle in other people’s feelings and problems because I was quite afraid that they would say that I was.
But that really changed when I started taking up this course. After a year, I started listening to my closest
friends, relatives, and children. I also learned to be more open about my struggles. At that moment, I
realized how important it is that you listen to and always check on your friends; at the same time, you do
that to yourself as well.

To be honest, it's difficult to keep track of everyone you're friends with. You'll have to pick and choose so
that your phone doesn't show 30 notifications because you texted your entire contact list. I, for one, have
a finite supply of energy and, as previously stated, only so much time. It might be a good idea to focus on
a few people to keep an eye on. It will not only ensure that you are emotionally present, but it will also
aid in the development of meaningful, deep relationships. I suppose what I'm saying is that life is difficult.
Work, school, and a goddamn pandemic are all stressful and overwhelming. Nobody should go through it
by themselves. Reaching out to others is a good thing, even if it is because you are lonely. Your actions will
be beneficial. It may even assist you in unexpected ways. So, send that text, call that number, or join that
video chat. You'll truly be improving someone else's—and your own—life.

6. Do you think social work profession is unique to other social sciences fields?

Social work is a practice-based profession that promotes social change, development, cohesion, and the
empowerment of individuals and communities. Understanding human development, behavior, and social,
economic, and cultural institutions and interactions is all part of social work practice. I think social work is
unique from other social science fields because of its person-in-environment focus and strong
commitment to social and economic justice that set it apart from other helping professions. Social
workers help people at all stages of life, from infancy to old age. Generally speaking, science influences
social work. The study of social science involves both objective and subjective knowledge. The goal of
social science research is to comprehend patterns in the social world. Social scientists employ both
qualitative and quantitative methods. Sociology is focused on research and presenting findings, whereas
social work is typically focused on providing social services to individuals, families, and groups.

Sociology and social work are two related fields and both deal with the relationships of human beings to
their social environments. Both fields are concerned with social problems, social structure, and how
individuals respond to and live within cultural and structural constraints. In Sociology and Social Work, the
approach to society is theoretical, and theory building is its major concern. Social work, on the other
hand, has to be practical and deal with problems. Delinquency, inequality, deviation, and social exclusion
as well as childhood, family, and care are other examples of themes addressed by both disciplines.
Sociology and Social Work. The sociologist is particularly concerned about how, when, and why people
behave as they do in association with others. The social worker is concerned about helping these same
people solve the problems they have and improve their social functioning.

7. What are the unique characteristics of our profession?

"Unique" means being the only one of its kind. I think what makes us unique is that we do social work,
which differs from other professions in that it focuses on both the individual and their surroundings. It
focuses on people's problems in the context of their social environment. Social workers believe that
people are influenced by the strengths and weaknesses of those around them—in their families,
communities, workplaces, and organizations. Social workers deal with the outside influences on a
person's situation and outlook. Social work as a profession is not an easy job. Each day, social workers try
to find the best ways to provide resources for their clients. Social work, like many other fields, is always
changing. Every client is different; therefore a social worker must be able to find different ways to help
each individual. There are many problems that a social worker can face in this field. One problem that I
will most definitely face in this profession is increased workload. There are so many things that must be
done to help a client, and sometimes it can get overbearing. Having so much to do at work will eventually
cause the worker to become stressed. Another problem that social workers often deal with is working
with challenging clients. Some clients are harder to work with than others. For example, one client might
become uncooperative due to not understanding or liking the way you are trying to help them.
Sometimes even the family tries to step in and give their input, which makes it harder to help the client. A
social worker should not have to be overloaded in this field. This problem is, in most cases, due to not
enough staff. To fix these problems, I propose that more social workers be able to help one another
relieve a lot of stress. Also, I propose that the client's family make an agreement to let the social worker
do his or her job and not intervene because it makes the process longer and harder. I strongly believe that
social workers are in a unique position to improve the lives of others, their communities, and the world as
a whole. Not only is it a well-paying job, but it is also challenging and meaningful. Consider becoming a
social worker by pursuing a degree in social work and becoming a licensed social worker if you have a
passion for helping others and want to make a real difference.

8. And how you will use this to enrich the social work profession?

I think it is best that we are able to make people around us understand what our profession does and how
we can help them if they have any struggles. Most people don't realize how much more there is to social
work than they do. Misconceptions and stigmas about the profession may prevent people from seeking
the assistance that social workers can provide, or they may discourage students from pursuing a social
work degree and serving the public. A social worker's main goal is to answer questions, provide support,
and develop a plan to help their clients succeed in life. Don't believe the myths. Continue reading to
discover the truth about what social workers do and how they can assist people from all walks of life.

Some misconceptions are: Social workers are welfare workers; social work isn’t just for those who are
down on their luck. Social workers help lots of different people in many different situations. Most social
workers tend to specialize in one sector of the population or environment, including children and families,
schools, healthcare, mental health, and substance abuse. Social workers want to take your kids away;
keeping families together is in everyone's best interest. As a result, social workers assist at-risk children
and families in gaining access to resources and programs that can assist them. In schools, social workers
collaborate with teachers, parents, and students to address issues such as bullying and aggressive
behavior, allowing students to achieve academic success. Child and family social workers assist parents in
finding affordable child care and applying for government benefits such as food stamps. These workers
also provide mental health support to children and families going through divorce, bereavement,
adolescent pregnancy, and other life transitions. Social work is a dangerous occupation; it is true that
social workers may come into contact with potentially aggressive clients. Physical abuse does occur in the
profession, but it is less common than psychological abuse. Some of the people social workers assist may
be unstable as a result of stressful situations. A kind heart is all you need to be a successful social
worker; while caring about others is important in any profession, social work requires more than just
compassion. Social workers meet a variety of needs for their clients. They offer counseling services, assess
clients' strengths and goals, help clients apply for benefits, respond to crisis situations, and provide
information on available resources and programs. Social workers also evaluate and monitor client success
to ensure that their methods are effective. Aside from natural compassion and empathy, social workers
should have strong listening, research, time management, and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability
to work well under pressure.

We need to make them realize that social work is not just a “just” job instead, it helps people in hospitals
cope with acute conditions and chronic illness, provides therapy in community health centers, keeps
students from dropping out of school, assists prisoners as they reenter communities, provides
rehabilitative support in drug and alcohol centers, works as first responders during natural disasters,
provides outreach and long-term care in nursing homes and homeless shelters. Considering that this work
is happening every day in small towns, suburbs and big cities across the country it becomes clear how the
impact of social work on one individual can lead to a significant impact on society. And with an increasing
role in pushing social justice and human rights into the forefront of debate, social workers around the
world are taking the next step toward truly addressing the problems of those that the economy has left
behind.
 9. How do you see yourself after 5 years?

Honestly, I see myself becoming happy in life because I am now a successful social worker. I can clearly
see myself being satisfied with my job because I get to help people and children who need support or are
living in poverty, facing financial difficulties, addiction, divorce, abuse, and so much more. I can make a
positive, meaningful, and lasting impact on the lives of others. It’s like an adventure because each day is
different. I visit families, nursing homes, and hospitals, attend meetings, and investigate safeguarding
claims. I never know what the day will bring, which adds some variety to the work we do as social
workers. You can specialize in a variety of areas and work in a variety of settings, including hospitals,
schools, the private sector, local governments, and nursing homes. As a social worker, you work with
people when they are at their lowest. You have the knowledge and tools to assist them in reclaiming their
lives and taking advantage of opportunities they would not have had otherwise. That is something to be
proud of! Social workers change people's lives and communities. Their intervention has a broader impact
on society, inspiring others to join them in making the world a better place. The numerous advantages of
being a social worker, ranging from diverse potential career paths to a stable job outlook, make this field
appealing, but its ability to inspire change makes it meaningful and satisfying.