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Social work
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Social work |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
Within the past 8-10 months, I've decided that my major is social work. The type I'm interested in is counseling drug users, and whenever I mention that to someone, they ask me, "Why do you want to do that?" Well, my question is, why do people always ask me that question? Do they not believe I should be doing that kind of work? Do people believe that drug users don't deserve to have other people help them? Why? |
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| © Copyright 2001 Elizabeth A. Larson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JBaker515
since 2001-02-28
Posts 458Dartmouth College |
Elizabeth- OK...here is why..for the most part.. My mom is a social worker. She loves her work, and loves to help people. Now the thing is, no one understands how hard being a social worker is, and what they go through to help other people.. The main reason people say " Why the HELL are you going to be a social worker" is... THE PAY!! Social workers are so underpaid, they dont get any money for what they do!! Thats why. They deserve as much as EMT's or Police men..etc.. They fix people emtionally and mentally, not physically.. they should get paid more...but they dont.. and thats why people ask WHY ~Jeff~ |
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inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
I feel it has alot to do with job burnout. All the work you will do helping a drug abuser and see them go back to drugs time after time. Yes they need help but most of them don't really see where they are doing anything wrong. They normally go for help when a JUDGE orders it. It is very dangerous also. Drug abusers will do anything, steal, or even kill to get what they want. |
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Yu Lan Senior Member
since 2000-04-13
Posts 1462New Zealand |
Mm, when I said I wanted to study psychlogy, with becoming a psychologist in mind, my parents laughed.. Dad thinks someone would only be a psychologist if they needed one themselves, and Mum says "you don't want to do that Lynne, you seriously don't want to do that.." I'm not sure why they think like that either.. but I guess it's because they would never do it themselves. Social workers have to deal with a lot of ****, especially those who work with drug abusers, and that's probably another reason y ppl would question it.. because they would never do it themselves. They don't understand why anyone would deliberately put themselves in situations like that, that can be uncomfortable, or risky, or whatever.. Yeah, the pay isn't too good for social workers, but frankly, without them, it's pretty much a no hope situation for a lot of people. But does it matter why someone questions it, Liz? I think it matters if YOU question it.. “One word can be magical. Imagine then, the effect of several words, together..” [This message has been edited by Yu Lan (edited 07-28-2001).] |
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Acies
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-07
Posts 7665Twilight Zone |
I believe that people who ask these questions, just don't have them in them to do the same. I did a lot of social work satrting from high school into college. And I loved it, it's the most gratifying one will ever do. Knowing you are making a difference and seeing that smile on the face you're looking at. Nothing beats that. I say.........May you do really good on your choice of social work. I wish you all the happiness in the world. Go out and make a difference. hi Sweets, Lizzy, Kris, Ina, Erin, Erica, Minna, Kit, Kamie, Javi, Jenn, Sharon, Nan, Cawlee, Cherish, Ashley, Sara, Justine, Leah, Jess, Kimmie, Mare |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Do what you love to do....and you will be happy. Tell them to buzz off when they ask you why you want to counsel drug users...then smile...THEY probably hate their jobs... |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
I know why..... because they do not have the kind of compassion you do. They are selfish and care only about helping themselves. They think that people who do drugs are beneath them, or are scum bags. They are self important, arogant jerks. Secondly, it is my life experience that they realize their lack of ability to do something that wonderful and selfless, so they try to make you not do it too.  But you rise above, and do what you feel you were meant to do. If you change your mind will that make you shallow? NO! I look at it like you at least have what it takes and would do it, you were just called in another direction how's that? [This message has been edited by SEA (edited 07-28-2001).] |
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Dopey Dope
Moderator
Member Patricius
since 2000-08-30
Posts 11132San Juan, Puerto Rico |
I guess cuz not many people want to be social workers? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Unless they've been a social worker themselves, what have they to say? Follow your heart... and consider talking to people who do the job. They can give you insights that others can't... |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
Actually, Elizabeth, I think it's a good question, though that may not be the intent of those asking. You certainly don't need to answer it for anyone else, but I think it's important that you be able to answer it for yourself. Not in terms of whether drug users deserve help, and not even in terms of just how badly the help is needed, but rather in terms of how the work can satisfy your needs and desires. You should be able to verbalize - to yourself - exactly what rewards you expect such a choice to bring you. Only then can you weigh it against the costs. Sacrifices are necessarily short-term. Only if you get more out of the work than you put into it can social work become a long-term commitment. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Elizabeth--I applaud you. One of the reasons I am so upfront about my battle with substance abuse is to fight the prejudices that seem to be supported by the media. I am not shuffling down the street looking for hand-outs. I don't steal. I'm not dirty. And I do not LOOK like a junkie. (Now Brad, I INTENDED that irony.) If nothing else, I would hope that people would learn that in our instant fix society, junkies are teaching our children, tending our sick, policing our communities, running our governments, and even ministering. I can't speak for everyone, but only for myself, that it's been my experience, that drug abusers are simply people who cannot cope with the pain of their own existance. I congratulate you on your generous heart of compassion to see past the fallacies. It is better to light a candle than to sit and curse the darkness. |
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anonymousfemale Member Elite
since 2000-02-02
Posts 2797Limbo |
Serenity, you said it perfectly! Elizabeth, when I was throwing around career ideas, I told my mother I always wanted to be a Psychiatrist. Do you know what she said? "Elizabeth, they have the highest incident of suicide." If that wasn't discouragement, I don't know what was! Now I don't know what I want to be anymore. You have to do what makes YOU happy. At the end of the day you have to please yourself and not all those people that sit there and put you down and don't do anything to change the situation of the drug problem. It takes a lot of strength to do something like that and if you care enough about other people to help them through such a thing, you can be strong enough to put such mindless comments behind you. "Reality is just a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs." -- Robin Williams |
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Allysa
since 1999-11-09
Posts 1952In an upside-down garden |
I understand how you feel. If I don't become a lawyer, I want to be a social worker, or a counselor of some sort because I want to HELP. Also, why do they pay baseball players millions of dollars when teachers and social workers and the people who actually HELP society are so underpaid? It;s kinda stupid. Someone once taught me that it doesn't matter what other people think of you as long as you like yourself. That's what I live by. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Elizabeth I waited to see the responses before saying my piece. Serenity I first of all applaud you for your comments. I work with kids that are battling substance abuse. I worked for a boss who suffered from a cocaine habit unfortunately he could afford, but I could not longer afford to work there at the risk of my sanity as I covered up for him (enabled him to do his habit), so suggested the board send him to rehab and found myself out of a job. I tried to help but that particular time his problems were bigger than I was and he needed professional clinical help. I then decided it was time to simply stop working because of all the stress that had caused, enough was enough and through previous education I was grated the ability to work with these kids. Serenity is right, "they" do not look like substance abusers (and so what if they did?), they are human beings that are using this abuse to cover pain! We all want to be validated and heard, and usually it is the those with any kind of abuse of drugs that suffer the most in society and turn to this as a release from reality. As your job Elizabeth, (and I know you have the heart to accomplish this), they need to be heard! They know the are abusing drugs that is the last thing they want to hear, but what they do want if they have taken the step to seek help is that you are the small glimmer of the light of hope. I would say that the amount that make rehab is not as great as I would personally like, but even if one gets back into society as a happy human being then it is all worth it, so I salute you. All I would say is - do it for the right reasons as it is a very demanding job and although I get no money for my part in this, you have to do it for the passion of loving your fellow man, as there is definitely no money in being a social worker. Hats off to you and Serenity for both taking the steps needed to make one life better. ((hugs)) If you have but one true friend when you die you were truly blessed ~* Mysteria *~ [This message has been edited by Mysteria (edited 08-18-2001).] |
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