Why I Chose Social Work

I am grateful for how my parents raised me. My mother taught me to be compassionate and loving of others, while my father taught me to work hard, but to not get overworked up when something does not go my way. Instead, he believed in forgiveness. Yet, I am often self-conscious that I was not brought up in a religious household, but I thank my parents for letting me experience life with no pressure to grow up in a certain religious affiliation, so I am able to experiment with different faiths. For this reason, I was able to develop a better self-awareness of myself. I often contemplate whether what I am doing is right or wrong. I am able to challenge or adopt other ideas because I was never presented with a source of written guidelines to follow.

It should not matter what language one speaks or the color of their skin. Further, individuals should not judge if they do not know the whole situation. One of the reasons I chose social work is because of the core values and ethical principles for this occupation. From an early age, I have cherished the idea of serving others. I believe in the dignity and worth of every person, no matter what; and I find it important to promote and restore relationships with others, whether it by my family and friends, or a stranger needing assistance that I am able to give. I cherish integrity in everything I do. I am often the responsible one among my peers. I believe in doing what is appropriate and honest, which has led me to be a whistleblower at my job, which interfered with my friendship with a coworker. I was presented with a difficult ethical dilemma, where I used my integrity for the safety a child and promoted ethical practices (NASW,

My biggest responsibility is gaining a degree. I cherish the idea of being intelligent and being able to have skills (NASW, 2008). Further, there is always updating information about concepts; it is important to stay up-to-date on what knowledge is needed to help others.
In what way it is important or meaningful for you to be in this world? It is important for myself to be in this world to make a difference. Historically, many different groups have been oppressed. I feel the need to have knowledge about the world and strive to make changes to promote social justice. I understand that I have white privilege, while many people do not. I want to advocate for others that are oppressed and hope to succeed in change.
What are the deepest questions your situation raises for you? Some of the deepest questions I have for myself is: am I a good person or am I doing the right thing? I have been on earth for twenty years, but I still have a lot to learn about life. I struggle with faith or simply whether I have faith or not. I want to be able to have a solid understanding of my faith, but I know there may never be a direct answer for myself. Another question I have is: why do people judge me for not being religious instead of support me? I am not discarding religious ideas altogether, and I am not judging other people for their beliefs, which leads me to another question. Would I have been a better person if I grew up with a religious background