A Study on the Importance of the Need to Care for Others in the Social Work Field

The need to care for others is perhaps one of the most significant needs that one has when entering the social work field. Although I do not want to work directly with patients, I do believe that I have a passion and need to help people. I am interested in working behind the scenes, in the administrative aspect of this field. However, I still believe that caring for others is why I choose to initially study social service work. The need to care is important to the structure and balance of our society. Every individual has the potential to provide something important and beneficial to the community in which they are a part of, however due to a variety of socio-economic barriers not everybody is able to make that contribution .

It is in the principal of social service workers to empower members of the community to take action for themselves and help them contribute to society. And as much as wanting to care for others is important in this field, this need can become a challenge if not handled properly. For example, although you may have a strong need to help an individual, they may not want your help (). In this reading, titled "Becoming a Helper" by Corey & Corey, the author acknowledges the principle that although it is important to care for others, one should not forget to care for themselves. Otherwise, it is easy to become "burned out" and have little left to offer.

The need to reciprocate plays an important role in my life, and is one of the greatest motivations behind my choice of entering the social work field. I was quite fortunate to have come across many important role models over the past few years. These people have provided me with bundles of positive advice and helped to steer me in the right direction. And with this amazing knowledge that I was provided, comes responsibility. I feel obligated to return the favor by the means of reciprocating and becoming a role model to someone else, hopefully for a client in the future.

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I believe that wanting to be role model for a client especially, if working with children is a great asset to bring into the field. Unfortunately, in today's society, children do not have many good examples to follow. And the people that society believes as successful" are the ones who have become wealthy or famous or celebrities. I was fortunate enough to come across many inspirational people while living in a Kibbutz in Israel. One woman there was the daughter from a wealthy British family. She had enough fortune to never have to work a day in her life. However, despite her family's wealth, she worked in the kibbutz earning her own living, scrubbed toilets, picking fruit in the farm, just like the rest of the Kibbutz members. I wanted to be just like her, as ambitious and independent. And most importantly I felt the need to pass on this acquired ambition to others, hopefully children. I believe that this need does not possess any challenges, but rather enhances possibilities.

The need for control has always managed to take a toll on my life in some form. Through high school, I was that girl that would always get into heated arguments with classmates over popular social issues. I refused to back down, wanting others to value my opinion and most importantly accept it as the right opinion. Challenges and changes in society was perhaps my most preferred class, as it allowed me speak my opinion and debate it with opposing classmates.

In fact, winning the acceptance of others, winning a debate and changing someone else's opinion to match my own gave me a sort of and left with a even stronger urge to control the mentality of others. The need for control could have some positive attributes in this field. For example, when this need is expressed in a constructive way such as empowering children in the right direction, which falls under the guise of helping others. The need for control can also bring with about many negative consequences if not used properly. Ultimately it is not the role of a social worker to control the lives of others, but help them steer their own lifes in the right direction.

I believe that very few people will be able to bend history and have a profound lasting impact on the lives of others. However, I am a strong believer that each person is capable of making a small positive change for someone else. I believe that the need to make an impact is instilled in every human on this planet, including myself. The reason behind this is that humans are selfish by nature. Creating an impact, improving the life of others or empowering change satisfies our very own needs of increasing our self- worth. I never understood how this need could have complications.

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