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Popeye the social work student

Life as a social work student

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 I thought I'd make my first post a little bit about me - feels only polite to introduce myself.  I'm Popeye, but you can call me Poppy.  I'm a "mature" second year social work student, trying to juggle two small children, the degree, a house and a husband.  It's not been easy, especially the last 5 months which I've spent on placement but now I'm back in the class room it all feels a little more manageable.

Since I agreed to do this blog I've been thinking about what I'd like to write about, I'm quite outspoken and can get very passionate about social issues so I guess I'll be touching on that at some point but I wondered, for all those students just getting confirmation of their university places, whether a run down of what books I've found useful would be beneficial? 

Please feel free to message me with any particular topics, questions etc. about being a social work student and I look forward to sharing things with you, not only till the end of my course but perhaps beyond as a NQSW?
Posted: 2 Mar 2009 9:55 PM by popeye | with 7 comment(s) |
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Comments

simeon2 said:

Good first blog post Poppy!

# March 3, 2009 9:58 AM

Max said:

Good luck with your course Popeye.

I'd like to hear you blog about what motivated you to pursue this work, your aims, what you are learning from your experience and from the people whose lives you are trying to assist (rather than from books), and what you feel will keep you strong on the journey.

# March 3, 2009 4:27 PM

cb said:

Good luck with the blog! I hope you find it as rewarding as I do..

# March 3, 2009 5:35 PM

popeye said:

Thanks Everyone!

Max - I'll try and answer your questions over the next couple of weeks!

# March 3, 2009 10:00 PM

Ceci said:

Hi

Good luck with the blog.

Im interested in the things Max said, but also in the books you found interesting and helpful.

Im a first year and Im never sure if to buy or borrow, so any help would be great.

Ceci

# March 4, 2009 9:09 PM

lb said:

Hi Popeye,

Ive just received my acceptance letter on to a social work degree starting in september.. I know this is what I really want, Im soo excited and cant wait to get started, although I cant help but worry about the workload! I see that you have 2 small children and so it is very reassuring that you are doing so well, as I have a little boy who will be 16 months when i start. At the moment Im juggling looking after my son, working, doing my open university course and managing the housework, and at times it is really hard!!

What do you use as motivation to keep going? Is it really manageable to complete the social work degree whilst having small children? Many thanks for your help :)

# March 5, 2009 10:03 AM

popeye said:

Hi lb

Congratulations on getting your place!

What keeps me going?  I think it's a really personal thing, for me it's just thinking about one module at a time, one assignment at a time.  It's only now, 18mths in, that I've even started to think that at the end of this I'll get a degree. Others have been focusing on the end all the way through.

Placement has been the hardest part, working 9am - 5pm 5 days a week, only seeing the kids for that grouchy bedtime hour, it's not been pleasant!  I am incredibly lucky that I've had my inlaws and my husband picking up the pieces, when the kids have been sick etc.

My youngest was 19mths when I started, I'll be honest and say that I do feel like I've missed out on a lot, especially the last 6mths whilst I've been on placement he's come on leaps and bounds (just turned 3 now) and I have missed a lot.

Start reading some key texts now - I'll do a post in the next couple of days about what books I've found essential!

Good luck and most of all - enjoy it!

# March 5, 2009 10:38 AM