I always knew I would go to college, simply because I wanted to be successful. In today's society, finances are pretty much everything, and making a living is extremely important to me. Both of my parents are college graduates and make a great living, and that was always my motivation.
However, I recently learned that your salary isn't everything. Of course, I want to be financially stable and be able to afford things I want, as well as things I need. But with the most recent change in my collegiate career, money will not always be the main goal, but doing what I feel I was called to do.
This past summer, I changed my major in undergrad to social work. I've gotten questions and some concerning looks. "Why would you want to be a social worker? They see terrible things every day and don't make any money." I just shake my head, as I know in my heart of hearts this is what I want, and I can learn how to manage money without making millions on end.
First of all, the statements that "social workers don't make any money," and "do nothing but take children out of their homes and see terrible things," are stereotypes. My teacher for Intro to Social Work made it very clear that this profession has many stereotypes, and it's up to us to set them straight. Though it may be true that some social workers do not make as much as others, it's not true in every case. It all depends on what level degree you have, where you work, what type of work you do, etc. This not only applies to the social work field, but any type of field at that.
As far as "terrible things," goes, yes. It is true that social workers do see some sad things on a daily basis. Trust me, I've already seen some. But these "terrible things," such as pulling children out of homes, do not always have to be seen as black and white. We do what we do for certain reasons and to guide our clients. They also do not only work for Department of Child's Services. Social workers can also be found everywhere, such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. We are there for all of society and citizens, and are advocates for those who cannot help themselves, or issues that cannot change themselves.
What I'm trying to say is that sure, maybe I won't be a CEO of a big business or a lawyer winning cases, but I'll feel more than rewarded helping my clients. I will be able to make a difference, which is important to me when it comes to issues I'm passionate about. It's so easy for someone to say, "Oh, that's not my problem," but the thing is, it should be. This is our world, and we only get one. Social workers are so much more than our stereotypes, and the money doesn't matter, because at the end of the day, we're saving the world one client and one issue at a time.
