The Importance of Advocacy

Most of my training in the social sciences, prior to the start of my MSW program, was focused on psychology and the individual.  While this is important, and I hope one day to have my own clinical practice, it's also imperative to look into social institutions.  Much of what goes on in the world is a collection of individual experiences that shape the greater social world.  In the teachings of C. Wright Mills in The Sociological Imagination, I have learned that private troubles can become public issues.  For example, we might think of marital problems as a private trouble of the couple.  However, if we look on a more comprehensive scale, we see that the divorce rate is colossal, therefore this becomes a public issue.

In my opinion, public issues will remain issues without the policies implemented by active individuals.  As much as I want to counsel on a personal scale, I also wish to advocate for issues that affect the world around us.  When I interned at a domestic violence agency, I spent a lot of time counseling victims on the crisis hotline.  I also had the opportunity to lobby local and state politicians to allot more funding for social service agencies in the city.  As much as my work with individuals taught and inspired me, my work on a larger scale opened my eyes to the broader challenges that end up affecting the individual.

I look forward to my Social Welfare and Social Work class, as I have much to learn.  Every day I discover more about how multifaceted social work truly is.  I am roused by the idea that I have started, and will continue to influence the field and, in turn, better the world around us.

I leave you with a revolutionary quote from Sir Thomas More, expressed more than five centuries ago, "You must strive to influence policy indirectly, handle the situation tactfully, and thus what you cannot turn to good, you may at least make less bad."

Beginnings

Studying psychology as an undergrad lead me to believe that a doctorate was the definite next step.  Now that I've started my Masters in Social Work program, I'm incredibly grateful that I chose this path instead.

When I officially took off in my graduate studies a week ago, I have to admit I was intimidated.  Loads of reading, new professors, and the absence of a college town.  However, once I actually met my professors, peers, and got into the heart of discussing what I'm truly passionate about, comfort was all I felt.

This blog is an attempt to document all that goes on through my studies and beyond, in future practice.  I don't start my internship placement until the summer, so for now this will be my musings of classes, current issues in the field of social work, and the ups and downs that go with it all.

It's refreshing to finally be studying for my future, instead of taking (and struggling with) math classes in college to fulfill credit.

I'm already incredibly excited for this semester to unfold.  My classes are as follows:

Human Behavior in the Social Environment I

Ethnicity, Race, and Culture - Diversity in Human Experience

Social Work Practice with Individuals and Family I

Social Welfare and Social Work

My main goal during this entire venture is to grow, not only in the field of social work, but also in the field of life.  Hopefully I'll end up helping many people and creating change along the way.  Wish me luck, here goes my journey!