Observation: In my social justice class, we briefly talked about how it takes 4-5 years for us to get our degree and it takes only 4-5 years for people in social work to get burnt out and prepare to move elsewhere.
Lately I've been struggling with managing how to internalize being a social work student and being myself and dealing with the problems I have for myself and within my relationships with friends and family. I've heard from professors and people that you want to separate your work from your personal life in order to keep being effective and not go crazy. How do you do that when you begin to embody and integrate your values and beliefs of social work with your personal values?
We study so much about people, behavior, justice, and skills to have to be an effective staff member, but it only makes me realize how much needs to resolved in my own personal life. At least this major is teaching me how to apply theoretical perspectives to create interventions for myself right? I believe it is important as they have taught us already to understand our own biases and recognize our strengths and weaknesses to be effective in the field.
Part of me just feels wrong for wanting to separate my personal life and my social work life-- like a phony. Macro views are developed from the everyday interactions and conversations that take place in our lives so it frustrates me to let injust things slide as jokes or whatever they can be passed off by our peers. As someone who wants to do macro level work (still need more direction and focus however) I find it overwhelming trying to battle the micro problems that stem from the macro issues. It seems like so much work, time, energy, pain, and resources to solve. (Remember the Macro vs Micro babies falling out of the sky and into the river analogy in class?)
A great plug for more self care ;) It takes much introspection and time to understand ourselves and our wonderful giftings. I cant help others if I myself am not healthy so its important for me to find that balance in my life.
What are yalls thoughts or experiences with battling the conflict of always feel the need to be a "social worker" while being yourself?
We study so much about people, behavior, justice, and skills to have to be an effective staff member, but it only makes me realize how much needs to resolved in my own personal life. At least this major is teaching me how to apply theoretical perspectives to create interventions for myself right? I believe it is important as they have taught us already to understand our own biases and recognize our strengths and weaknesses to be effective in the field.
Part of me just feels wrong for wanting to separate my personal life and my social work life-- like a phony. Macro views are developed from the everyday interactions and conversations that take place in our lives so it frustrates me to let injust things slide as jokes or whatever they can be passed off by our peers. As someone who wants to do macro level work (still need more direction and focus however) I find it overwhelming trying to battle the micro problems that stem from the macro issues. It seems like so much work, time, energy, pain, and resources to solve. (Remember the Macro vs Micro babies falling out of the sky and into the river analogy in class?)
A great plug for more self care ;) It takes much introspection and time to understand ourselves and our wonderful giftings. I cant help others if I myself am not healthy so its important for me to find that balance in my life.
What are yalls thoughts or experiences with battling the conflict of always feel the need to be a "social worker" while being yourself?
I struggle with this all the time!! The things we learn in the social work department can't be un-learned - my eyes have definitely been opened! I told myself I wouldn't become one of those preachy activist types, but I see it happening every day...
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