Entrance Letter BSW Program

Seneca College and I have an analogous vision. I, just as Seneca, ceaselessly work to explore the confines of nature by surpassing expectations. Long a fanatic community worker, it is this ambition that brings me to Seneca. Involvement in various community projects has made them feel more alive and engaged. Vindicated, my drive to further sanctify my passion for community work leads me to Seneca. Thanks to my experience, I believe that Seneca is my future since, through it, I pursue another lasting chance to follow my zeal for assisting the vulnerable in society. I understand from personal experience that to acquire the success, trust, and honesty that Seneca esteems; new people are required to craft a reverential atmosphere for these values. I believe that my background as a Native American will offer an ingenious viewpoint in the college’s quest for knowledge whilst assisting it in developing a basis for future feats. And this, truly, is the utmost success I can envision. Long-fascinated by hobbies such as working with children and needy persons, I trust Seneca is the ideal choice to continue nurturing my love for social work. I have only scratched the surface in this ever-evolving field, but I know that the potential is boundless. Similarly, I believe that my time at Seneca will make my potential equally infinite. Besides its budding ethnic and cultural diversity, Seneca is becoming a leader in crafting a niche for each student. Therefore, Seneca is not just the ideal school for me; it is the only school for me.

Problem Statement

Most people fail to recognize the extent to which racism affects our daily lives, and if they do, they do not care enough to do anything about it. Racism remains one of the most upsetting issues in the world today. Numerous individuals are unaware of how much racism damages the fabric that holds society together, and despite social interventions, it refuses to go away. Racism very much exists and it is about time Canadians started thinking about its causes and solutions. Most people argue that people are born racists, but that is not the case. In reality, a person cannot be born a racist – they learn to become one as they grow from childhood to adulthood. From a personal perspective, racism is a global menace precipitated by ignorance that discriminates against people based on skin color and can only be mitigated by continuous education. Ignorant persons are likely to become racists because they lack knowledge and are bound by old thinking. Lack of knowledge when it comes to other races is not a thing to be embarrassed but hating them devoid of attempting to understand them is appalling. With education, people will learn that skin color does not determine another individual’s character, manners, or behavior, and we ought to avoid using racism to defend our own.

Part II: Future Plans

Social work has long been one of the most interesting careers I believe aligns with my personal goals and perspective. I am currently studying social service work at Seneca College, and the course has given me a universal point of view on the issues affecting the community and ways of dealing with social problems. The Social Service Worker course offers vast skills and knowledge that are important in the field of human service. The course challenges a person to assess their values and beliefs, champion social justice, equity, and human dignity, as well as excellent interpersonal communication. My areas of interest in social work are mental health and persons identified with disabilities. In my previous endeavors, I have worked with these two groups, and I believe after completing my course, I will be well-suited to further my involvement with the groups. Therefore, upon completing my course, I would be enthusiastic to find employment with either the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians or Addictions and Mental Health Ontario, two major institutions involved in the mental health and disabilities areas of service.

To begin with, the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) is a national body comprised of visually-impaired Canadians as well as public supporters who work tirelessly to ensure the voices of the blind/partially blind are heard. Within Canadian society, the AEBC’s mandate is to raise awareness regarding the responsibilities and rights of deaf-blind, blind, and partially sighted persons to ensure they have equal access to opportunities and benefits in society. In addition to the mentioned aspects, the organization is dedicated to changing Canadians’ perceptions about visually impaired persons, such as low expectations of their abilities and minimal employment opportunities. AEBC’s chapters and members around Canada are mandated to deliver education programs, increase public awareness, and consult with businesses and government on issues like accessible banking, transportation, education, employment, communication and technologies. The organization’s efforts are meant to guarantee that the needs of disabled persons are met and their rights are not violated. Since 1992, AEBC has been a frontrunner in smoothening the playing field for deaf-blind, blind, or partially impaired Canadians. From its inception, AEBC has been involved in committees and working groups at the municipal, provincial, and national levels in its campaigns for fairness in the manner firms and businesses provide services, programs, and products within Canada. Working with the organization as a volunteer or member will ensure I donate my money, time, and energy to making certain that the various needs of a skilled group are both utilized and recognized. Together, we will be able to educate Canadians while having one voice with more choices.

Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) is an umbrella body comprising more than 220 mental health and addiction organizations in Ontario. The group’s chapters offer supportive services, which aid Ontarians in the territory with their recovery, together with case management and community-based counseling, withdrawal management, supportive housing, and residential treatment, as well as hospital-based programs. As a collective voice of its members, AMHO’s main mandate is to offer leadership and involve partners in building an all-inclusive and accessible framework of mental health and addiction care while improving the well-being of families, communities, and individuals within Ontario. The organization does this via policy work, advocacy projects, knowledge exchange, quality improvement work, education programs, and service development. In view of the agency, each year, more than 2 million Ontarians undergo bouts of mental illness or addiction issues. Despite the high number, more than a third of Ontarians who perceive themselves as requiring addiction or mental health services mention not receiving assistance or having their requests only partly met. For those lucky to access health facilities, they have to face long wait times before they can be helped. Although addiction and mental disorders embody 10% of the burden of illness, only half of Ontario’s public investment in public health tackles the issues. In light of these aspects, the agency offers services to mentally ill patients and addicts by ensuring they have adequate access to relevant health services to improve their lives while guaranteeing they become useful members of society.

It has been my desire to be associated with a team of medical staff that strive for excellence. And I believe I am about to get this dream team here. The mentioned job requires continuous innovation, and that is where I come into the picture. I have the ability to think out of the box, the willpower to do the impossible, defiance to face problems, and sensible enough to recognize my limits. Compared to most individuals in similar roles, I thrive on going above and beyond – I choose nothing but excellence. I know and understand the need for sacrifice, extra time, punctuality, and thoughtful interventions in the provision of quality services and productivity so as to provoke exponential growth in the industry. I am a diligent student, and during my academic years, I have been regularly distinguished as competent by my colleagues and professors. I do my best to provide the best ever expected and rely on new research results and I am courageous enough to try out new strategies. Whilst working on extracurricular and school projects, I have employed management, leadership, and technical skills, which I hope to leverage into the role given at your organization. Additionally, I have studied and learned more about the field in order to stay current with today’s technology. I assure you that I will contribute my true hard work. I believe that I can have any job done not only on time but doing it excellently. I am positive that I will bring numerous unique traits to the organization and offer various opportunities for my development. I am convinced that I have the required skills to magnificently do the job as expected and perform beyond expectations.

Part lV: Job Interview Preparation

Professional Contacts

My participation in the social service work program over the past 2 years has given me the opportunity to meet a number of experts in my field and beyond. While the number of persons I met during the period is more than 100, I will only list two individuals because I believe they are the ones capable of assisting me personally and in offering service to improve my client base. The individuals include the following:

1. Ethan Hunt, board member, Sanromanoway Revitalization Children after-school program
2. Matthew Stanislaw, director, Jane Finch Action against Poverty

Interview with a Social Service Professional

Interviewer: Pablo Houdini, Student

Interviewee: Matthew Stanislaw, director, Jane Finch Action against Poverty. We met during a community initiative at Jane/Finch.

Interview Location: The interview took place from 3:05 PM on 30 Mar. 2018 in Ontario and lasted an hour.

(Start of Interview)

Pablo: What do you like most about this type of work?

Matthew: In my view, I treasure having input in other people’s lives, mostly during trying times, and being able to have an idea of what they want from me. I reminisce about working with a young lady who was in an abusive relationship for a couple of years, and after talking with her for more than two hours, I finally had her mention something positive about herself. A few days later, she informed me that it had been a long since she was thoughtful of herself, and the act gave her hope that one day she might be in a position to manage her relationship. The conversation made me appreciate how exceptional our job can be, mostly for individuals who cannot envision a better life for themselves. I also like that I know the intricacies of the profession and can, consequently, make myself an erudite campaigner for people in crisis.

Pablo: What do you least like about your work?

Matthew: Social service is fascinating, and I must mention that I have been mollified by my work. I have had the chance to meet some really remarkable individuals. However, during my work, there were cases whereby I had an inordinate amount of paperwork that overwhelmed and inhibited me from doing what I love, which is working with people.

Pablo: What skills are important for this job?

Matthew: Our work needs an assortment of cognitive, professional, and emotional skills. Although most individuals who enter the profession possess an inborn gift for these skills, it is important to sharpen them during one’s career. Indeed, becoming a lifelong learner is an ethical obligation for qualified social workers. Though there isn’t a definitive list, there are a few skills and qualities a social worker must have, including active listening, forbearance, critical thinking, inner strength, compassion, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal communication.

Pablo: What qualifications are required for this job?

Mathew: The minimum qualification for admission into the profession is a bachelor’s degree, though most positions need an advanced degree. Other than education, social workers must be mature emotionally, unbiased, and thoughtful of people and their issues. They should be able to show responsibility, independent work, and cultivate positive relationships with colleagues and clients in addition to licensure by a professional body.

Pablo: What strategies of self-care would you recommend?

Mathew: First, a person need to give themselves permission to accept their problems and share them in their community, as opposed to dwelling on them and attempting to face them single-handedly. Second, one should examine themselves and accept feedback from those close to them to improve areas of weakness. Next, people need to make their work environments work for them and appreciate themselves, their work, and their growth. I believe the need for a regular check-in with oneself is essential if one’s job involves directly caring for other people.

Pablo: What additional training would you recommend in order to be more qualified for a job in the field?

Mathew: A prospective social worker will need to obtain registration, licensing, or certification from social work bodies, and some provinces and territories require 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. Further training may be with professional bodies to enable a person to be more competent in handling responsibility, working with others, and remaining objective.

Pablo: Tell me about a time when a client disagreed with your approach or treatment plan.

Mathew: I once had a hospice client who was in immense pain but simply refused to take medications for her pain because she viewed them as an indication of weakness. She turned out to be aggressive whenever nurses tried to force the medicines on her, and I recognized that I had to be more accommodating. My resolve that she takes the medicines implied that she was no longer in charge of her life and her decisions, and that was not right.

Pablo: What is the most important aspect of managing clients’ feelings?

Mathew: It is vital that you remain composed and do not take things personally. Only then can you listen and sympathize efficiently. Besides, it is imperative to keep strict boundaries so that the expectations for respectful interaction are well-defined and upheld.

Signature of the interviewee…………………………………………………………………..

Designation……………………………………………………………………………………..

Date of confirmation…………………………………………………………………………..

Post-Interview Issues

From the conversation I had with Mathew, I realized that social work is a profession that one does not choose but rather finds themselves already engaged in without knowing. It is, therefore, important that a social worker remains dedicated to the values and qualities of the profession to minimize any incidents that might result in the provision of inadequate service or suffering to the patient. From the aspects mentioned in the interview, I would need to ensure I have a bachelor’s degree or higher qualifications before admission to the field and possibly get accreditation by bodies that deal with social work in Canada and around the world. In my view, strong qualifications, licensure, and excellent skills will help me become an efficacious social worker while giving me the opportunity to work in any region in Canada or in the world. After our meeting, Mathew mentioned that he might be able to connect me with some of his colleagues to get their insights on the intricacies of social work and get hands-on experience on some aspects that I might not have dealt with if I am interested in the future.