Hey y'all whether it's morning evening or afternoon I'm just glad that you guys had decided to
vibe with E. Yes the one and only E. And today this podcast episode is really really really
really really really very important to me because it impacts on my career. So I think y'all know
what it is because I mentioned it like early in the beginning of the month but if you don't know
sit back and get comfortable because I'm about to tell you. So without being sad y'all whether y'all
on the go or doing whatever the case may be I just want y'all to sit back relax and enjoy
hearing my voice or while I do some doing hearing my voice because why not. So so so so if you're
new here welcome welcome welcome and if you're not new to this but true to this hey y'all what's
up and what's popping and let's get into it. As always happy Wednesday whatever day y'all listen
to this Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday I don't know but happy day to y'all.
I hope you're all are having a wonderful day as well as whatever you guys listen to it. Also
happy spring like spring is finally here but it's still cold as hell outside and I think the
weather needs to go back to how it was last week and two weeks ago because I was seeing
70s and 60s down back at like the 40s and 50s I'm not with that but hopefully you know it gets to
where it's supposed to be and we're gonna rock out. So let's get into it because this one is just so
exciting to me and I'm probably a little bit behind but I don't care we're gonna celebrate this all
month okay. So today's month of the day is social work. Yes yes yes yes yes yes because this is
social works month social workers month as well as international women's month however the day
of social work was May 19th which was yesterday but it's okay like I said we're still gonna
celebrate this because this is very important to me as a social worker in training this I'm
gonna let this be known and I'm gonna give y'all all the the ins and outs of how it is to be a
social worker as well as preparing to be a social worker in what I have experienced and learned
on this journey. So let's get into it. Happy social workers day to all the social workers out there
in training, storming down whatever your social worker period in my eyes and I'm so very so so
so very proud of y'all because it's not easy and we have a big shoes to fill especially when it
comes to whatever you know type of social worker you are as well as you know you have your nurses
your doctors teachers lawyers everything like that we are all equal just like that okay so on May 19th
that's when social workers day was its social work day was created and today we celebrate that
with all the amazing social workers worldwide and promoting justice equality and well-being for all
so we got to continue to stand together advocate for change and build a bright future for everyone
because together as social workers we can make a difference within whatever group we're working with
okay because I'm ready to get into with y'all Mark Ro, Mazzo, Mark Yaddo because don't get me started
but we learned that further down the line when I really like getting to explaining my experience
of how it is maybe today or maybe in another episode but right now we'm just going to give
y'all the backgrounds of a social worker so it is saying you know world social work day
but the vibe probably be social workers in general and y'all know I gotta talk about my black social
workers okay because we we we that we just we just that no offense to any other social worker
within any other race but black social workers I see a lot of us every day every every day on
my tic-tac in Instagram I see a lot of black social workers and I'm surrounded by a lot of
black social workers because of my hbcu okay so let me get into it what is a social worker a social
worker is a professional dedicated to improving the well-being and the quality of individuals
families in the community they work with in a variety settings including schools high school
government agencies and nonprofit organizations their prime goal is to help people navigate
through the challenges such as poverty homelessness mental health issues abuse and substance abuse
social workers often provide counseling, education and resources to empower individuals
and families to overcome obstacles and achieve stability they may also collaborate with other
professionals such as psychologists doctors and educators to assure comprehension to support
their clients now let me give y'all a little taste for what type of social worker I'm going to be
because I always like try to give people like hints on what I want to do and I'm like y'all know
I want to be a school social worker and the reason why I want to be a school social worker is because
I will never forget in middle school the counselors that I that I had dealt with
they made an impact on to my life and since that day years years ago they have impacted me in a way
to become a school social worker because they helped me it was either to be a social worker or
a counselor either one a school counselor they still intertwine because they still worked again
and the only difference is their title and if you don't know guys I do have my certification as
behavioral health specialist trainee within counseling so I guess I'm specializing both
but I really really have a turn on detour turn into a social worker and there's nothing wrong
with either one of it because I support both of it but they also help with each other and I might
get my master's in social work may not social work I'm about to I am going to get my master's
in social work but and also in counseling as well because that one is like a little bit I would probably say easy
but it's also the same level but it'd be considered human resources so either way shout out to counselors
therapists as well as psychologists because it's not easy at all to study and to become
these people it's not easy so if you have a counselor therapist psychologist social worker
please honor them and give them the up to respect the day they deserve because it's not easy it's
not and the thing is like I learned from both counseling when I was in community college
and up until now as an undergrad is that when you are in the field of willing to help others
especially with their mental health and things of that nature you have to remember to sometimes
it's hard to say it's hard to stay consistent to your feelings because at times you don't want to
make it about you first of all we can't make it about ourselves at all period as social workers
we're here to help our clients or client and we have to keep in mind that it's our duty to protect
them at all causes and also let them know that we're here for them displaying everything that
they need and wants and things like that and at times we do want to show our emotions but they
tell us not to and I understand why because you know you don't want your client to be like oh my
god she can't help me she can't keep us out together but sometimes we have to you know break
to let our clients know we understand and at the end of the day we're human so like I said if you
have a social worker counselors like colleges therapists whatever please please please give
them their flowers because it's not easy because they are going through things as well as well as
willing to help you and I'll never forget in my social policy class my professor told me and all
the other all my other classmates that in order for you to help someone you have to help yourself
first so you have to help yourself before you can be willing to help others and since that day I
was able to you know sit with a counselor be able to figure out what's going on with me because
as a social worker you got big shoes to fill and you have to make sure you're straight before you
can fix anybody else's life and help them in the ways that they need help with so play your cards
right but also keep in mind before you do anything you have to make sure you're good like I tell you
all the time if you're new here sometimes we might have to 5 10 15 20 25 30 the hour whatever
just have a mirror conversation or to just soak in what's going on to make sure that we're okay to
have that mirror one on one or whatever conversation like they've been like listen up let it all out
you know social workers play a significant role in addressing social issues such as injustice
and advocating for systematic change to improve the lives of many groups they strive to uphold
ethnic standards and culture sensitivity and their practice realization the diverse and needs
of background of their clients social workers encourages and research policy development and
community outreach to address board social issues and to promote social justice overall social
workers are compassionate professional commitment to fostering positive change and creating a more
equality instability society now like for me to be a school social worker I want to work with middle
school or high school children for me I have to make sure that I'm creating a safe space period
that's number one rule you have to create a safe space for your clients because they're the ones
that are willing to come to you about anything and it's our duty to make sure that they are getting
the justice and help that they deserve because like I said it's hard at times to provide the
needs that they need but we're social workers of course we have to do that because that's what
we signed them for that's what we made a decision for once we went through all these undergrads
grad school and even to be doctors and we're so on and so on even a lot of social workers
has even opened their own practice to be able to help them and have others underneath them to help
their clients as well it's not easy it's not easy and a lot of people think oh social worker
oh only time to see a social worker is like within on tv or not really um in the presence
we're there you just can't point us out and I and I've seen that on tiktok a lot of social workers
be like sometimes people when you're recognizing especially when it comes to us black social workers
in training and social workers black social workers period so as a african-american woman
like myself that's going to be a social worker I'm advocating for all black children whatever
school I work for I'm advocating for them because I'm wants to make sure that they're getting
the justice that they deserve regardless how big or small their issue is they deserve to have a voice
and they deserve to get the help that they deserve and the reason why I said middle school or high
schools because middle school they just got out of military school and they're preparing for high
school and at times that's where you get to identify who you are you get a sense of who you are you get
to see who are your friends you're gonna see what you like what you don't like you got to see you get
to see what's for you and what's not for you and as you go to high school it's like all right it's
right here I'm preparing for college trade the world period and as a person like myself that dealt
with things in middle school as well as preparing for high school I noticed that a lot of children
at those ages between the ages of 11 going on to 18 19 deal with depression deal with anxiety deal
with a lot of things that they should not be dealing with but it happens because at times you
know how children are sometimes children's are sometimes children are bullies sometimes you have
to do things to fit in and I will always want to advocate to my future clients that I deal with my
students was I want to put this in more want to mode this in their head is to be comfortable who you
are and if a person doesn't like you for who you are then they don't need to be around you I learned
that in middle school you have to be comfortable within your skin and you have to be comfortable
of what you believe in and what you stand for yes at times people don't believe what you believe
and that's okay but it's really it really always had me so messed up where people were bully people
for just being who they are and like who they are and all the stuff that you know back then when
we were younger and I was younger all the stuff that we like that people didn't like now it's a
trend like being people like I don't understand people be like being weird doing weird stuff and
then everybody like oh I'm aware of it sounds like that I'm like huh like I'll never forget y'all like
if y'all haven't listened to the bully episode I never forget when I was gonna bully this with
being smart not like you know being smart out the mouth being smart brain lies and it just
it it always just triggered me because I'm like what you want me to be done you know people people
just don't you know children they don't know what to say but I feel like once you're in middle school
that's when your majority level should develop and you should know you know right from wrong but
it takes time for people when it's okay it's all right but as a future school social worker I'm
always gonna mold into my students is that no matter what's going on always remember that don't
be afraid to be who you are don't be afraid to speak your piece because you're human at the end of
the day and your life matters who gives a crap what I don't like about you and it's my duty to make
sure that you remember that you are important you're special in everything in that nature
and I'm going to serve you with the justice that you deserve especially if I don't care how big or
small the issue is I don't care how many issues come my way impacting my students I will be that
social worker that's going to be there for children and I hope they remember that as they go on within
there if their college careers trades military with whatever the case may be I always told myself as
I entered undergrad and social worker that I must put an impact on the children because I'll never
forget like I said my counselors that was at my middle school put an impact on me to the point
where they created a group to help young black girls know that they're comfortable who they are
it's okay to be different it's okay to be you know it's okay to be different period but always remember
that you are important and don't let nobody sell you short don't let nobody tell you all the nasty
things about you whatever tell nasty stuff to you be strong and they taught me how to be comfortable
I am because we all had you know self-esteem and stuff like that and I'm telling you them
counter-philism social workers of therapists and psychologists are the ones that are there to help
you that's why I don't I don't hate nobody that works especially in the education system as well
as the teachers every little staff member whoever because it's hard it is hard and within this
generation it's very hard because now social media plays a big part and as a black social worker
and trainer I'm going to make sure that they know the difference between real life situations
that's going on versus the internet and trolling and doing things just for cloud okay so why are
black social workers important but baby let me tell you black social workers are important because
we play a crucial role in addressing the unique challenges faced by black individuals families
and communities we bring a deep understanding of the historical and systematic factors that
contribute to social equality in racial discriminations by us impacting the cultural complex approach
with us as black social workers we can connect with our clients and provide a meaningful support
and advocate for their needs within the social service system we are the ones that are able to
to pursue help and ensure that black voices are heard and that are served to address every situation
they have when it comes to culture social and economic issues within the black community us as
black social workers are the ones that are able to advocate within social justices social justice
challenging obstacles structures and work towards systematic change that will promote
equality and empowerment for black individuals in the community now like I mentioned within the
black community every time I think every class I took so far was in my undergrad we always had
discussion on would you feel comfortable having a social worker counselor therapist whatever the
case may be to advocate for you and I always said yes because we understand each other like the back
of our hand and there's no offense to the other race but I feel like they wouldn't understand us
for us and they wouldn't understand everything we go through they would not understand why things
happen like within the community that's another thing too that also I forgot to mention when it
comes to school community plays a big role because a lot of children you know they're coming from all
over where I'm from and from Baltimore you have the city you have the county you got like deep in
the trenches in the city you got the language lifestyle in the county you know you got all this
stuff these narratives and stuff that people are saying but it's like at the end of the day
sometimes your community don't define who you are and I always like I always said that even when I
was in high school I always say you know I'm from Baltimore I'd like what's the school in the county
my first year high school half of my year high school they transferred back in the city it didn't
define who I was because at the end of the day no matter where I'm from it's not going to find who
I am with them when it comes to like if I'm from the city or county and where I'm from you could
tell who's from where you could tell who is from the city and who's from the county but I always
tell people don't let your community define who you are because at times that's not true you know
like I said I went to school in the county you know and even though I was born in the county
were raised in the city I don't let that define me I don't let that define me because
I'm a different type of person I'm a different type of breed you know like certain people that
grew up in the hood they don't let the hood define who they are because they grew out of that you
know people would be like oh you can take a person out of the hood but you can't take the hood out
of them yeah that's true but you're not going to let that define me like sometimes you have to show
that side but you gotta be careful because people will be like oh every little thing you do they
try to define that as you and I'd be like I don't make no sense because it's like nowadays things
change when I was little you know people didn't really want to be in the county they want to be
in the city and then I'm old is like people in the city want to be in the county it's like huh
what's going on like you know some people want to figure till they make it and I'd be like you know
even if you was born in the suburb it's okay it's all right you don't gotta play you know play like
you a city girl or you a hood boy whatever the case may be it's okay to be different it's okay
you know at times I feel like your community do not define who you are regardless you know
you born and raised there cool don't let define you because like like I say I'm from I'm from
Baltimore people be like oh you live in the gutter you come from what they say body more like I hear
the most craziest things and I don't let that define me because I know what I'm a part of it I know
what I'm not a part of yes I love my city born and raised here love it but some of the stuff y'all
saying to stop me that's not me that's not in my everyday life I'm everyday living no okay so when
it comes to us black social workers like things like that we are wanted we're able to let our
clients know our students what I'm know like look don't let that define you like don't let that do
that to you because people are just crazy people are really pretty crazy and I'm gonna tell you how
us black social workers have an impact on us all people us black social workers can make a significant
impact on our community by just being there within the cultural um comparisons like I just made the
empathy and the skills that we have to address a unique of us black people in the for our individuals
in the communities like through the culture side of things we're there for support service support
that we can help our clients navigate the system barriers that also heal them for historic trauma
and build resistance by being the voices by being the voice for our community and advocating for them
within the policies and research us black social workers can put a huge effect on to the systematic
change and challenges the root causes of social justice by our presence within the field by also
having that service as well as the source of inspiring and empowerment we're offering a responsible
role that that mows us for our clients to be role models in the sense of letting them know that
someone's here someone's able to help you especially with an income in the community
black social workers play a very very very deep role when it comes to promoting social justice
like I'm mentioning empowering and healing within the black communities as a whole as a big whole
so when it comes to how does black people in social workers intertwine with each other we do
because we understand each other most of us social workers out here has dealt with the things that
our clients are going to tell us that we'll be like I understand and I'm gonna tell you
you things that I did but I'm gonna tell you what you're gonna have to do you know and also as a
social worker therapist client with a therapist counselor all that we have to make sure that
we don't make it about us because this is about our client we can give them our insight but we
cannot tell them what we'd like you can't tell them how we just can't make it about ourselves
that's just the whole thing don't make it about ourselves we have to be there to mow our clients
that we're here for them regardless of whatever going on we're here for them especially when it
comes to black community us as a black community has to sit together we have to especially for the
generation growing up and coming up in this world no matter what type of industry you're going into
nursing lawyer teacher engineering whatever case may be I hope that we're able to mow our children
not even just you know as near as social worker counselor step is everybody that's going to hbc
use that are part of the black community please make sure you mow the generation under you make
sure you let them know that it's okay we're here we understand we're going to be there for you with
open arms don't be afraid that's why I want to be a social worker because that's where at times
you know at times they they don't have nobody to talk to outside of school and most of time a lot
of children gravitate to their teachers counselors and other staff members and social workers things
like that because they understand them and they have a safe space you know because you know outside
of your house once you know most children know of their house school maybe their work environment
and maybe like sports whatever sometimes we have to be the ones that are able to be there for us
be there for our children especially mentors have got to mention they play a very very very
very big role mentors coaches whatever the case may be anything impacting with a child
we have to make sure that children understand that they are important they're very important
and they're very precious and we have to make sure that nobody and nothing comes against them
or try to play them because this is a crazy world it's very crazy and I would be hurts to see one
of mine be affected and that's why we have to have people that are willing to do the excreta
for children because they need it and that's where social workers come into play counselors mentors
therapists because we know how the brain works what the brain can take what it's not going to take
and what they need to make sure that they don't have to go through this so that's when it comes
to play when our black socials when our black social workers most of the time needed baby we
need it at all times black social workers they say are often we're often most of the time needed
within the community yes at all times when it comes to systematic racism economic economic issues
and social justice issues that are impacted within black individuals and their family
going back to the community it's the clues within their neighbors with the high rates of
poverty crime access to health care education and historical events black social workers
we play a crucial role within the setting within a school where we can support black
students facing all types of struggles within academics in the crime justice system we're able
to advocate for them as far as the treatment the rehab ability being there for the children
period during times of crisis such as natural disasters or public emergencies us black social
workers are the ones that are in charge of providing a cultural support group and resources for
black communities that are being affected by these events overall us black social workers are
important and needed whenever they are systematic barriers to equal opportunities for advocating
and empowering the black community like I mentioned when it comes to school and neighborhoods a lot
of the schools that are in these neighborhoods you'd be surprised of how good the school looks
versus within the outside you know like outside school looks good and the neighborhood sometimes
looks like what the hell and it's like I see why a lot of people in the black community at times
don't want their kids going to schools in the city because most of the schools that's in the city
are surrounded by a neighborhood that they're terrified of and I thank god every day that the
schools that I went to I'm gonna say high school when I transferred the neighborhood was not as bad
but like for down the line like most point elementary school it was good now I'm gonna say this
even though at times within a community you know it could be so peaceful at times like I said
within the new the new generation coming up we got a really really really washed up because
in the city you know I went to a city school down the street from is like a shopping center
and where I'm from yes you'll see dudes on the corner and stuff like that and I understand
the fear that people have because I still fear to this day for myself but I'm not even in middle
school or high school and I'm in college that's where it's like my college is open campus from up to
down the whole damn block and it's a shopping center and my old high school is right down the
street from my university I go to now I fear every day for them children as well as this as well as
my peers at my university because it's crime everywhere and this is like you wouldn't expect
crimes to happen to certain places especially within the private and it's so crazy because
people think oh probably don't need to see hell no it's probably in the county too like I work in
the mall and I see like sometimes around the mall a lot of homeless people a lot of like places that
are so like picture perfect they'll say some of that has to go through poverty it breaks my heart
because like it's children that's growing up seeing this and not support the parents that
will move head to head to make sure that their kids don't go through that like for me instance
where I live at live at my whole life down there it wasn't a lot of crime but every now and then
you're here and your phone light up to the synapse that's what we have this is this this
happened and it don't be so far from home and it just be like it scares you because it's like
dang if it's happening over there it can happen over here like I said I'm from Baltimore people
be like that's that's charm crime city not necessarily because this states that's going
through 10 times worst shit that we're going through that's impacted with children and it
hurts me every day I go and what we have on Instagram murder Inc on the news anything just
hearing about something that did that's being dealt with with the child the child don't deserve that
a child wasn't even able to live their life due to something that had nothing to do with them
and that's the thing I think we're too bullets have no name to it they have no name to it people
who have a shootout and then and then don't even realize they just shoot innocent people especially
children they're very very innocent especially when it comes to within a school environment
you want to put your children in one of the best schools ever but sometimes it's like
those best the schools the best schools ever have their best bullshit so and then it's like
do I want to home school my child do I want to do so I do it's like a lot and that's why us
that are social workers counselors mentors coaches teachers whatever have to make sure
that we conduct a safe environment for these children mentally and physically especially
for us because we're putting ourselves on the line and it's not hard god it is hard it is hard
sometimes we think it's not hard because what we see the outside looking in the baby the inside
is hard it's very very hard and when it comes to healthcare have it access to healthcare
I never forget in my policy class I never understood policy that much until I took
it last semester and it's so crazy how and everything impacted policy within the black people
were screwed like having access to healthcare having access to a lot of benefits were screwed
were screwed and that's why us social workers that are working within communities nonprofit
hospital schools communities dealing with substance abuse physical mental abuse we are the ones that
are advocating for our community to get the resources that they need because if we don't have
it we're screwed it's already bad enough we're screwed to get it but why be screwed enough
and not had such as dental insurance doctor insurance the insurance period it's hard it's
so hard y'all it makes me so emotional just talking about it because us social workers are putting
ourselves on the line and people just think oh social workers don't make jack are you dumb
are you dumb we make a good penny especially counselors mentors teachers like colleges
all of that impacting on well-being we make a good penny so if you hear anybody say oh social
workers don't make nothing oh a counselor oh a coach oh a teacher oh this they'll make much okay
okay all right you'll see you'll see trust me as I always like I always tell people I'm going to
school to be a social worker for my undergrad they're like oh you ain't gonna make no money huh
because people always think oh nurses doctors lawyers
judges police officers they make more what no we make almost down there the same
but that's the thing if you're passionate about something you really not worried about the cost
of how much you're making you're worried about making a change yes you're worried about the money
of course you gotta worry about your money because you've got bills and stuff to pay but you're really
looking at the highlight of this is what I went to school for this is where I stress having no
sleep this way I stress so working with no days off this is what I stress to work two three jobs
take care of myself take care of my family whatever the case may be so I can get here and that's how
I look at it yes I'll make sure I'm making some six figure money but I'm also making sure that I'm
doing what I said I was going to do in display what I'm going to do work and put some ass off to
get to where I will be in a year or two so with that being said happy social work
to all social workers out there because baby it's not easy but I'm telling you now we're
going to make a difference and we will make sure that our clients will get the justice that they
deserve no matter how big or small the issue is we as social workers are the ones in control
to navigate to make sure that our clients get everything that they want in need in the right
way and also we have to provide a safe space for them because they have to be comfortable with us
as well as we have to be comfortable with them take it from somebody that went to counseling
my very first counseling session y'all I will not lie to y'all I bust down the tears because I'm
not gonna lie to y'all we're gonna talk to somebody that don't know you from a king of paint
and they're willing to help you
and you get that sense of the feel the vibe from a person you get that sense of I feel safe
and I feel like if no judgment zone here that's when it comes to place use me I'm not gonna lie to
y'all my first counseling session with my counselor I bust out I felt comfortable with her I had
did you know some research because you can do research on your counselors social workers I
think don't be afraid you know do your research that's like how you pick it for a doctor you know
hairstyle this is definitely you gotta do your research you don't want to just go to nobody and then
do your research it's like dang what the hell I signed up for you know so it's okay do your research
and I will be proud to give my clients and everybody the platforms that they need to make sure that
they're comfortable with me that's nothing too the overall thing when it comes to helping people
mentally physically we have to make sure that they do their background checking they're comfortable
because you don't want to put yourself in a predicament where you have to work with a person
and you don't feel comfortable with them no don't do that because it's gonna it's gonna mess you up
it's gonna mess with your mental trust me that's like working with somebody and you just can't
you just can't you can't deal with them okay yeah they're good with them you know handling business
but like the way they're talking to you you have to be good all around all around the board like
communication wise understanding me and also handling my business you can't just be good at one
thing it's lacking in something else hell nah I refuse that goes for your doctors your nurses your
teachers everything you want to make sure that they're all around the board good to your liking
in what you're looking for can't half-ass shit especially within a career that's impacting with
with making sure that your clients get everything they deserve and they're and helping them get over
but not even get over I like to say patching closing the door on things because like I
had my session I told my client I told my counselor straight up I don't want to say
put it in the past but putting a seal onto the things I've been through being able to let it
out and just put in the cap on like you know when you open up a drink and you open the cap up
I want to put the cap back on that bottle at the top and tighten up so tight so the point
where I can't open it no more and that's our job as social workers so to all the social
workers out there that's an undergrad grad school all that I was so so proud of you it's not easy
but baby it's going to work out in the end because you're doing one hell of a good job and you will
be an amazing social worker counselor mentor therapist psychiatrist whatever the case may be
this is your season you're going to get there and if nobody's proud of you I'm proud of you
because we have to stick together and we have to encourage each other as well as giving each
other our flowers okay so with that being said y'all I hope you enjoyed this episode because I did
I hope you guys stay safe and sound you get warm a little cold the weather's a little bipolar but
it's okay just stay stay safe period and stay cautious of what's going on give the people that
you don't give their flowers to the most giving they flowers you know check up on your people
do do something good for a change do something out of faith I don't leave do a surprise just
do something good today I wish y'all enough of a peace of blessings and as always you guys will
hear from me next Wednesday bye