Whenever I hear this phrase from a social worker (or a nurse, or psychologist, or a counsellor), a little alarm goes off in my head. I buy into it a bit because it's what we've been told in our culture and schooling. Social Workers are underpaid and scrape by, but do the work for the love of it. That's what we're told. I totally bought into it and even catch myself repeating it on occasion. However, it doesn't totally ring true for me.
Yes, I imagine that if I wanted to make more money, there are other professions I COULD have gone into. But it's really not that simple. I wouldn't have survived in business. I'm not the type of person that could. I have no mind for numbers. I have no interest in some of the hard sciences. I'm far too fragile to be in most trades. I can barely cook for myself! Ok, so where am I going to make this money? What could I have done and succeeded in enough so that I'm making more than I am now. Also, what would I have to spend so that I could survive the tediousness of that existence? How much would be left? What would I have to spend to keep myself healthy?
No, I didn't specifically go into social work for the money. If I were a different person, I could have made a hell of a lot more money in different professions. On the whole, however, I don't think there is another profession where I could be satisfied enough so that I wouldn't have to spend a lot of money to cope with that profession. My skill set will let me grow in this profession so that I will make money. I am not a poor social worker and I have no reason to think that I ever will be.
Yes, maybe this is some pie in the sky thinking, but it's what I'm holding to. I may not make 6 figures (yet) but I'm much more successful in so many ways than I ever would be as an accountant...that's for sure! No, I didn't go into this (completely) for the money. I went into it because it fit.
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AntisocialSocialWorker/~3/jL3nWhuNIag/i-didnt-go-into-this-for-money.html
Posted
9 Apr 2011 11:48 AM
by
Antisocial Social Worker
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