Social Work Personal Interest Statement Amy Salomone Wayne State University School of Social Work

I am a social worker because I want to gain a better understanding of how to help those in need, so I am able to make a difference in clients lives and help to increase the quality of their life. I believe that being a social worker will provide me with the tools I need in order to impact lives of many, and will also enable me to help those without the ability to help themselves. Being a social worker will also allow me to make an impression on a broad spectrum of individuals. I will have the opportunity to touch the lives of individuals, in many groups, with different and unique circumstances. I have already learned so much in my limited time in the social work community. However, I know I must continue to gain knowledge through my experience in the social work profession. This will enable me to be better equipped to help my future my clients. I know I must gain knowledge and understanding that only experience in the field as a practicing social worker can provide. I will advance in the social work profession by continuing my education even once my formal education is finished. I am going to gain knowledge in various areas of social work so that I can be the best social worker I can for my clients, and provide them with the best support, care, and resources available. To date, I have already had a vast array of experience advocating for clients as a Client Advocate at Turning Point in Mount Clemens. Turning Point is an agency that works with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The goal of the agency is to help the survivors take back control and begin rebuilding their lives. I worked in the CAP (Community Advocacy Program) department. Within CAP, I am given clients this may include their family as well - and it is my job to provide emotional support for the survivor and help them to achieve short term goals as well as work toward larger goals, and also help them gather resources in order to help them get back on their feet.

Throughout my time there I gained experiences that are invaluable to my future as a social worker. In the past, I have volunteered my time to help those that are less fortunate; such experiences include being a bell ringer for the Salvation Armys Red Bucket Campaign during the holiday season. I have also taken part in Relay for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, and Phi Sigma Sigmas Rock-a-thon which raises money for the National Kidney Foundation. Helping others is a passion of mine, and I hope to continue to do so in my career as a social worker. As a social worker, I believe a crucial quality in order to be successful in this profession is to have exceptional people skills. The clients that I have worked with never cease to amaze me in their positive outlook and unconditional acceptance of me as a professional. Additionally, through this profession I have learned patience and kindness through working within the difficulties and roadblocks created by the system. However, this has not impeded my path on my way to seeking social justice for my clients. Furthermore, social workers must be willing to advocate for their clients rights and their future aspirations. It is a true inspiration being able to advocate for my consumers on a daily basis. It is unspeakably rewarding to see my clients begin to become independent and empowered as a direct result of the time and effort I have spent with them. I have attained an unwavering confidence in the abilities of my clients and their fight for personal independence and ability to take back control of their lives. I was raised to be a compassionate and caring individual this has influenced my decision to be a social worker. We all endure struggles and hardships and we must cope

with adversity; those who help us through these difficulties can help us to come out stronger. I have had personal experiences of my own that have made me want to give back to others and provide support to them the same way it was provided to me. I think my experiences only make me a stronger social worker, because I am able to be empathic and provide emotional support to those in need. The practice of social work is constantly evolving and the dynamics of the client/social worker relationship are never the same, every situation is unique. Additionally, research continues to reveal new evidence-based practice, which allows us to provide the best care to our diverse client-base. When thinking of social work within the client system, we, as social workers are able to provide care that is specific to that clients lifestyle and their needs, as opposed to standardizing care to a cookie-cutter method that may or may not suit the clients needs or even help them at all. Our actions as social workers affect all the other systems in a clients life, such as, family, peer groups, or interactions with the community because all of the systems are interconnected. Therefore, our actions as social workers have a vast impact on all aspects of the clients life. As social workers, we all have an inherent concern for social problems. It is at the core of the profession to work to combat social injustices suffered by groups that are oppressed and discriminated against. As a social worker, I understand that it is my duty to advocate, support, and provide links to resources for the less fortunate that desperately need my services. In addition, social workers come into contact with clients of all backgrounds, cultures, and religions. These clients may have different lifestyles with values that may

be very different from my own. However, I understand and respect that social workers are expected to be tolerant of individuals with diverse and special circumstances, as well as groups that do not share the same principles as our own. I believe this is strength of mine. I pride myself on being exceedingly open-minded. I wholeheartedly believe that all humans-beings are equal, and we all deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect. I welcome the opportunity to work with people of different backgrounds, this will allow me to grow my cultural competence and build my knowledge base with working with clients of minority classes. I possess many strengths that allows me to excel in the social work profession. For example, I am always opened to constructive criticism. I believe that social workers, new and experienced, should be able to take feedback from others, and learn from their mistakes by turning it into a learning experience. This enables us to build skills and grow from each other by turning negative or uncomfortable situations into a positive. Another strength of mine is I do not have any problems working with others or within a group setting. I think in many circumstances it is beneficial to work in a group where you are able to bounce ideas of each other and split up the workload among the members. I believe that in order to help others you should first be confident in your own abilities; this is why being self-assured is a key trait of a social worker. I am not critical towards myself; however, I do tend to be a perfectionist when working toward a task or goal. When I set a goal for myself I work tirelessly until I achieve this goal. I have confidence that this will translate into hard work I am willing to put forth in order to excel in this profession.

I understand I will be expected to work under a certain level of stress and pressure, as well as be able to meet deadlines in a timely fashion. This is an aspect of the social work profession in which I hope to excel. The ability to manage my time in a sensible manner is a strength I am proud to carry. I look forward to meeting this obstacle head-on, knowing that I have the tools to grow and cope with the challenges ahead. I have made every effort to thoroughly prepare myself to meet the expectations and goals of the social work profession. I have no foreseen challenges that will impede me in obtaining this goal. In this profession, I hope to become a standout social worker, and become an asset to the community.