Social work has offered me the tools to work with communities and individuals through the process of change. By standing with (beside and behind) those with whom I work, I can offer insight, support and advocacy to communities who hope to build the frameworks for change. Social Work has taught me about the systems that inform and structure people’s lives. It has allowed me to delve deeper into feminist and anti-oppressive practice.
It has asked me to develop a deeper practice of self-reflection and has required me to become a life-long learner, dedicated to understanding the complexities and dynamics of interconnected relationships. Social Work has taught me that social justice and sustainability can be pillars of my everyday life. By bringing this awareness into how I live, I become a more active, engaged and passionate community member. Social work has offered a lens with which to see the world.
I now have a deeper understanding of the connections that hold us together and the factors that drive us apart. Social work is a collection of theories and practices that deal with individual and social change. While I have long been engaged in these processes of growth and change, I have become emboldened with new tools through my M.S.W. In particular, I have learned new ways of working with groups, how to navigate and shift social systems, and a broader understanding of how power structures impact society, groups and individuals.
