Today, I tried to re-write the teaching statement I wrote three summers ago before I started teaching. One look at my teaching philosophy and I knew I had a lot of work to do. However, I blanked when I tried to write my new statement. I had no problem starting and finishing my research statement, but for some reason I could not articulate my teaching style into words. This was quite a shock for me because educating new social workers is actually one of my favorite aspects of academia. I care so much about the education of my students and I can’t understand why it is so hard for me to articulate who I am as an educator. In my defense, I’ve been writing various things almost nonstop for over a week, with the exception of taking a break on Sunday to go white water kayaking. I’m admittedly out of gas.
Then I remembered that writing my blog posts come so naturally to me. I also remembered that my most recent idea for a blog centered on honoring my students. I decided that maybe instead of writing my new teaching statement tonight, I should instead focus on writing a blog about my students. I dedicate this blog to every social work student I have taught, am currently teaching, and will teach. You all are the future of the profession. I admire each and every single one of you as students, people, and social workers. Let me first say, I have a hunch that social work students across the world resemble my own students. I am certain that every single social work student is a “world mover and world shaker” to quote one of my favorite poems. My students, in particular, are extraordinary. I have only taught bachelor-level students and the maturity they display at such a young age astonishes me. These students take on a variety of social issues and demonstrate a clear commitment to bettering society. They assume professional roles where they are helping people directly deal with a multitude of problems. Each of my students, own their individuality. Each of my students, genuinely care about people. Each of my students, think critically about what ails society and work together to come up with solutions. Each of my students exemplify caring, empathy, and a devotion to the human race. My students are smart. My students are hard workers. My students are inspiring. My first group of students are either working as social workers or traveling around the world. These students, in particular, faced a variety of challenges during their final year as BSW students. I don’t want to divulge too much about them personally, but I will say that the ten of them are surely helping humanity simply by being alive. One of them is featured in a documentary that educates society and challenges misconceptions. One is very clinically oriented and is certainly working towards her LCSW as I write. Another uses her artistic abilities to elicit emotion. Two students chose to master foreign languages to better communicate with clients. While another, is dedicated to non-profit work and helping the homeless. Another student is helping children is Southwest Georgia. Two others, manage motherhood along with the duties of our profession. The last two students, are surely sharing their uplifting natures with people as they travel. Last year I taught service learning, which was a hybrid course. I only got to see my students in-person six times over the course of the semester. Six times really didn't feel like enough time and it wasn't. They were such a great group of students and I am so grateful that some of them decided to take my course this semester. Thank you. I choose to single out the five of you since you all were kind enough to take me twice. One of the those students is appropriately nicknamed Sunshine. I know she brings sunshine into my world. The other four repeat students bring light and joy into my life too. One of the five broke her leg and was on crutches most of the semester, but she still completed all of her hours on time and hopped up the steps (our building didn't have an elevator) to class. These five were and still are very dedicated to helping others- whether that be through sharing their own stories, mentoring youth, helping survivors of sexual assault, reaching out to youth despite resistance, or doing anything needed (including not so fun admin stuff) at an agency that provides Hospice care. All of my students last year displayed professional aptitudes where they volunteered. They volunteered at least 25 hours and some did more. They were all really excited about their placements and went above and beyond what was asked of them. The got me excited about their work too. Their journals were as powerful as they were moving, because of how much my students cared about the people where they volunteered. One of them helped build a garden. Some of them brought board games to play with the youth in a homeless shelter. Many of them mentored youth in the community or connected with them through chess. One of my students worked with refugees. A few took on hospice work. Some were strong proponents of social justice. Some of them did all of this while having to manage personal issues, such as medical problems. Life clearly doesn't stop, even for an education. All of them acted professionally as young adults, followed through with their obligations, and made our community better through volunteering. I've bumped into some of them and even now, they all talk with respect and devotion to our profession. The students I am teaching this semester, amaze me every time I teach. I can’t speak highly enough of their personal attributes now developing into professional social work competencies. Many of them work in addition to school. One of them told me how she used empathy, dignity and worth of all individuals, and importance of human relationships to deescalate a crisis at work. Some of them are taking five courses. One is an athlete and another is a member of the marching band. One has a beautiful singing voice and plans to incorporate her music talents into her social work practice. At least two that I know of, volunteer as youth mentors. One has done extensive volunteer work with refugees. Another is a religious study major on top of social work. Another has used journalism as means to promote social justice. Another is a member of the ROTC. One of them told me she will pray for me, and like a great a social worker, she asked about my religious beliefs first. Truly, I could go on and on describing why I admire each and every one of them (you all), but there’s not time or room in one blog post. To be honest, I know a few better than others from bumping into some students outside of class at the community center, at a poetry event, or when I had a vegan pizza craving. I am certainly missing some compliments. I do truly admire all of you. All of them exude our core values in every interaction. They profess their passion for social work and a genuine desire to change the world. All of them are mature, capable, and unique in breath-taking ways. Each one of them made the choice to become professionals that take on the problems of society, communities, groups, families, and individuals before even graduating with a bachelor's degree. Again, all of them are mature, capable, and unique in breath-taking ways. Each time I teach, I envision a better tomorrow because of my students. I have more faith in humanity because I know my students are right now, as students, working towards achieving the goals of our profession. Each of them expresses the will power to stand up against what’s wrong and find solutions. Most importantly, I can tell that they all care about making the world a better place. Our students hold the future of our profession, the world, in their hands. Thank goodness it is them, our students, who hold this power. Thank you to all social work students for committing to being professionals that take on the problems of the world, at such a young age. Thank you to all social work students for your unwavering concern for societal well-being and social justice. Thank you for being “world shakers and world movers”. Thank you for being my students.
0 Comments
|
Archives
January 2020
Categories |