Styles

When facing a difficult problem I use several tools to help me reach a decision. I like to take a step back from the situation and just think about it. I evaluate what I want to come out of the situation and how best to achieve the outcome I desire. I love to make pros and cons list and then attached a number system to figure out what make the most sense on paper. I then have to evaluate what makes the most sense in my heart this is a bit harder. I find talking about the situation with parties that have insight or knowledge in the field helpful.

These tools have been very useful lately as my bothers and I have been dealing with medical and housing issues for our mother. She has a chronic illness which has involved a great deal of reorganization of our lives to assist her needs over the years. She does not have access to the doctors she needs in Lake County, which is her home, and we do not have the recourses to continue to go to San Francisco on a regular basis. She has been in and out of the hospital for years and it has recently gotten worse. My brothers and I deceived it would be best to move her to Eureka where she would still be close to family and have access to the doctor she needs.

This is challenging as we do not want to force her out of her home but at this time it is no longer safe. Using pros and cons list and communicating with my brothers on a regular basis is allowing us to find the best solution possible in solving a complex problem. These tools allow us to all express our view points and take into consideration what is best for our mother while insuring she receives the care she needs in a safe place. It also allows us to organize our thought and approach our mother united so she knows we are all working together in her best interest.

 I think using tools such as pros and cons lists and talking about situations allows me to use the American/British style of writing and get right to the point. I like to do all of the research before making a decision or starting to write a paper.   

Left or Right

I am more of a left brain operator. I am often overwhelmed by the whole picture and need to break things down to manageable to-do-list. At the beginning of the week I make a list of all of the assignments due and then go through the list and check each one off. I like structure and logic. I try to make my decisions based on fact and not emotions. Of course, the emotions can win out depending on the circumstances. I find I work best in an organized environment and try to be as organized as possible at all times. I would like to be able to engage more in my creative right brain. I think this would create more balance between my left and right brain.

Obstacles to Writing

I have found the biggest obstacles I have to writing come from both external and internal. Writing does not come easy to me and is often a struggle. I have found I write best when I take time to research the expectation or material, have a quite place to work and not have time constraints. I find it really helpful to know what is expected of me and do research so I can think about how I want my writings to flow.  This is often the part that takes me the longest. I have found having a quite place to work with plenty of time before the due date easies the pressure I feel and allows me to think more clearly.

One of the other biggest factors is what is going on in my world at the moment. It is tremendouly difficult for me to write when I have stressful or emotional things going on in my life. This week my mother was admided to ICU and is going to need to be moved to a skill nursing facility. The stress and emotional toll of events like these make it so difficult to sit and do homework. I find doing physical work so much eaiser in situations like these as it feels like I have no mental capaticy left for writing. I also have to set aside my desire to work with plenty of time and work under more pressure making the whole process more difficult. It seems like I have written hundreds of papers since I started at community college and I still struggle with low self-writing-esteem. I wonder if it ever goes away or if that is what drives me to continue to try and improve my skills.

Week 8

I have had such a busy and exciting week. I was able to take a tour of our local Probation Department, Juvenal hall and a corporation that contracts with the county to provide support services for low risk offenders. Everyone that I came in contact was helpful, knowledgeable and generous with their time. I learned so much about the process that a offender goes through once they are arrested. I was surprised at all of the resources available to assist them. I was also happy to see their is so much focus put on rehabilitation and the individuals needs. I am really starting to see how all of our studies will be applied in the field. I found the whole experience truly fascinating and am really thankful I was able to meet so many wonderful people.  

I am starting to get really nervous as the time is coming to settle into a spot for next years field placement and I am just not sure what will be the best fit for me. I know that I want to work with children but I am just not sure in what capacity. I am torn between counseling, special education teaching or working in an area like probation. I am having trouble finding any one with an MSW in the school district or in probation. I have found a person with a BASW in each department. However, I am so thankful that everyone I have talked to about doing my field placement as seem genuinely interested in having me. It is always nice to have options.

I wish you all a wonderful and restful spring break!

Week 4-The Crash!

We were coming home from my son's basketball game last night when we were struck by a drunk driver. Thankfully no one had any major injuries. The woman who hit may family has prior DUI'S! My emotions are all over the map. The social worker in me knows that she must be an alcoholic and clearly needs help. The mother in me is furious that she harmed my children and could have killed them.

After we were hit, I immediately checked on my children and then I went to check on the other car. I asked the women if she was ok. She said she was and then asked if there was anyway to keep the police out of this. As she spoke that sentence I could see she and hear that she was intoxicated. This furthers my anger as my first thought was to make sure everyone was ok and hers was to not involve the police. She never even asked if my children were ok!!!! As we waited for the police she started to complain about the damage to her car. My goodness I had to walk away as I never wanted to hit someone so bad in my life. (I know that is very un-social worker of me, but at least I did walk away!!) I do not understand how she could think so clearly about the consequences of her actions after being hit by an air bag but could not think of it prior to starting up her car. Her immediate thoughts after the accident was not wanting to get into trouble..Why didn't she think of this before she went to the bar when she knew she did have a safe way home? Why have the previous DUI'S not made an impact on her? What will it take for her to change her ways? I do not feel her illness or bad choices should absolve her from her responsibility to society.

When I asked her why she would put my family at risk? Why she felt she had the right to drive drunk and risk killing someone? She said she was just really mad about something. Yes so am I!!!

This accident has also re-enforced my love of my community as before I was even able to get my children out of the car there was a host of bystanders there to help us. I am so thankful to live in a community full of wonderful people willing to help without ever being asked.

 

Week 3 of Semester two..on our way!

I am excited to start my second semester at HSU and feel great to have one semester under my belt. The first few weeks I have had a few challenges with the updated system but am finding my way. I am nervous and overwhelmed with the thought of the work load for the semester. It feels like an avalanche of work but I will continue to dig my way out one paper or one post at a time.

I found this weeks reading Chapter 3 of Why I Write to mimic my feelings. I really enjoyed Timothy Patrick McCarthy's writing about the struggles and accomplishments in his life. I found it interesting he still experienced feelings of "intellectual inadequacy" at his level of academia(p.31). I love that he was so honest in his self-reflection and allowed us to view him through his words. I found Mr. McCarthy's to be inspirational when he wrote he would "replace insecurity with courage"(p.38). I think I shall strive for the same. I also think this is a central message I will be trying to empower my clients with. If we are able to let go of our insecurities and proceed with courage it seem the possibilities would be limitless.

I wish you all a great week!

McCarthy, Timothy Patrick (2006). Why I Write. In J. Downs (Ed.), Why We Write(pp. 27-38) New York:Routledge.

Writing Style

This weeks reading was very interesting and I am sure it will be helpful to me in the future. I have never given much thought to my style of writing before. I think it depends on what I am writing and who I am writing for. I think writing in a setting like this blog is extremely difficult as your audience is unknown in size and preferences. I try to look on the positive side of events and think that comes out in my writing in almost every    setting.

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday!

Left Brain

I am more of a left brain person. I like things to be sequential and structured. I like to keep to do lists and complete them step by step one at a time. I have to make a pro and con list for big decisions in life. I find these things to be helpful for me to keep up with all of the responsibilities of being a full time parent and student as well as substituting at our local school. However, I do not have a strength in the grammar and spelling area like some left brain people do which is to bad.

The traits I see from the right brain include connecting with emotions, feelings, visions and dreams. I try to make my decisions of the facts but sometime the emotions of the situation win out. I also like to have a visual image during instruction as I find it helps me to remember more details.

I found a great survey at The Art Institute of Vancouver Website at: http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/vancouver/left_right/rb_test.htm.

It will give you a complete break down of your right-left brain tendencies which was kind of fun to read about. Have a great week everyone!

Road Blocks to Writing

 I have never really sat and thought about why it is hard for me to complete writing assignments prior to this project. I know I usually get a pit in my stomach when I read about an upcoming easy and it grows larger with every additional page requirement. I found this project helpful in determining why I have this reaction. I found time, energy and lack of knowledge on subject matter were all factors in the growth of the pit. Although I think the biggest factor was low self-esteem. I have a fear that what I write will not be good enough. I hate letting anyone read my rough drafts as I know they will see my imperfections and may think I am stupid.

Of course, my rational brain knows you have to set aside time to make sure you have the energy to find the knowledge, in order to write a successful paper. I know I have written at least a hundred papers over the last few years and yet I can't seem to shake the negative feeling I have about my writing abilities. I find this to be especially challenging going to school on-line with our weekly post requirements. I think the post requirements have been a really helpful tool for me. The posts forces me to publish a writing for all to see several times a week in multiple classes. The combination of my school work load and other obligations and responsibilities does not allow the time for me to criticize every work I type.

This was an interesting and helpful assignment.  

Free Writing

I must say free writing has some challenges to it. It is strange to just let your fingers write what they wanted with no rules. I found that was the focus on my free write. I really enjoyed not worrying about spelling or work cited. Ah, work cited puts a deep fear in me. I am always so concerned about not completing that part of writing correctly. I imagine with all of the papers due for this program, I will master that skill in no time. I also found it really difficult to clear my mind and not control what I was writing. This exercise reminded me of the first few times I did yoga and how hard it was to clear my mind. Writer's yoga seems like a good name for this exercise.   

I would also like to say congratulations to my fellow students. We are almost to the half way point in the semester. I would say, it is all down hill from here, but that seems wrong. Happy Mid-Semester! Looking forward to getting to know more about all of you.

Silence

This weeks reading reminds us of the importance of silence. I find great knowledge in silence. I find if I am able to really listen to what people are saying it brings me a greater understanding. This allow me to see the vision of their experiences. I enjoy listen to people speak of their life so I can gain different perspectives on issues. I think listening is a skill we need to continue to practice.

I enjoyed what Paulo Freire's statement of "Emphasize our own voice so much that we impose silence on our students". I see how applicable this is to the field of social work. It is extremely important as a social worker we learn to be silent and not impose our voice on our clients. This would allow for them to express their circumstances, work through their feelings and come to a resolution which will best fit them. Then we will be able to see what direction the client wants to take their life and we can offer guidance.

Reference: 
Dunlap, L. (2007). Undoing the Silence: Six Tools for Social Change Writing. Oakland: New Village Press. 

We are just entering week four of the semester and I am starting to feel more comfortable with the expectations of the program. I have worked on a few group projects over the past few weeks and am also becoming more comfortable with the process.

Last week we were introduced to social justice and how we as social workers can effect change. I see a great need for more social workers on micro and macro levels. I see how important it is we work on social justice on a macro level to improve resources available and improve social justice for those in need. I also see how important it is to work at the micro level with an individual to improve there personal circumstances.

When I decided to return to college my main forces was gaining the education necessary in order to provide for my children financially. A year before I found myself a widow with two children to raise. I was lost. It was the guidance of a few trusted people and the resource which were available to me which helped guide me to current spot. I would not be here without help. When I think of social justice I think of the people who fought for my rights long before I knew I would need them. I think of the micro level as the individuals who guided me in my darkest days. I think of the macro level as the people who worked to provide benefits to my family to make this education possible.

Adventures in Social Work

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Week Two

As we move into week two of our program, I am feeling a bit more comfortable with the new programs I am working with. I can see one of the biggest road blocks to my Degree is myself. I worry so much about not being able to complete my Degree and yet I have overcome so many challenges in the past. I need to give myself more credit and walk this road with confidence.

In order to accomplish my educational goals I have surrounded myself with supportive people. I also know how important it is to be organized and allow enough time to complete my assignments.  I have an office at home and have talk with my family about not coming in when the "In Class" sign is on the door. They are extremely supportive which I am tremendously grateful for.

When things come up in life that cause interference with my goal, I will take a personal inventory about what is more important. I will stay in contact with my professors and fellow students. I will access all available resources to help me continue my education.

I take an active role in my education and know this is up to me. I will continue to work hard to understand, complete and participate in all assignments given. I know all of the assignments and classes work together to give us the best most complete education. I will respect the opinion of my fellow student and my professors. I will listen to them with an open mind and try to understand their prospective. This is one of the best ways to learn through other peoples experiences. I know they are also a valuable asset now and in the future.

Posted by jojo maize at 10:07 AM 1 comment:

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I can blog!

Hello blog world. My name is Jodie and this is my first experience with blogging. The title of my blog is Adventures in Social Work as I am just starting at Humboldt State University, Distant Ed, Social Work Program. I am excited to have the opportunity to earn my Bachelor's degree and still live in my rural community of Lake County. I am also very overwhelmed at the thought of how much work needs to be done while I am still learning these (new to me) technology tools.

I chose Social Work as my area of study as I have always enjoyed working to help other people. I get great personal satisfaction knowing I was able to help someone make their own live better. I think we all need a network of people to help us through the crazy ups and downs of life. I have been truly lucky to have a strong supportive network of people in my life. However, I am aware not all people have this support and would like to help provide support for them. I am still exploring all of the opportunities I will have once I complete my degree. I do not have just one area of Social Work which sticks out to me right now. From what I understand this is common at this stage of education and with more exploration, volunteering and connecting with people in the field, I will find my way.

Our first assignment is to create and post this blog for SW 480. I believe I am now creating the blog but please understand this is an old dog leaning new tricks! I can see how this will be a useful tool for us as we move through this program. SW 480  is our Distributed Learning Community and I think this will be a great way for us all to support each other while we learn new material and new technology.