finding social work
Like many people, the question “what do you want to be when you grow up” was a common refrain in my childhood. As you know if you read my introductory post “Meet Me: An Old Soul,” I have always been a feelings-oriented person, but I didn’t know how this would translate into a career – or even if it should. Like many people in helping professions, I found my way to this work through personal experience.
Senior Photo at James Madison University
the inspiration
To keep it brief, my life changed trajectory when a bad injury turned into chronic pain. As I struggled to find an explanation I felt dismissed, disrespected, discouraged, and depressed. It took years to find answers and years longer to feel better. I was privileged to have a supportive family to help me navigate the emotional and financial costs of the healthcare system. It broke my heart to imagine what similar journeys were like for people who didn’t have the same steadfast support. I decided I wanted to become a counselor of sorts, cheering people on and offering support to people experiencing medical hardship. I decided that if the career didn’t already exist, I would find a way to make it happen on my own.
The surprise
I vividly remember the first time I heard the phrase “medical social worker”. I read it, actually. I was reading “My Sister’s Keeper” which, by the way, will always be a favorite of mine for no other reason than for leading me to my profession. The term stood out to me, so I did a quick Google search and gasped. I bounded down the stairs from my room to my dad’s office and said, “Dad! I know what I want to do, and it already exists! I want to be a social worker in a hospital!”. He leaned back in his rolling chair and laughed. He wasn’t being cruel, but I didn’t understand his reaction in the slightest. “Don’t you know,” he said, “Papa is a famous social worker?” My grandfather, Harold Lipton, is a social worker, too. In fact, he worked in hospitals. He was even named as a pioneer of the field by the National Association of Social Workers. You can read more about his work here.
I was dumbfounded. Papa was a big part of my life growing up. We visited on weekends and holidays, he came to my sports games, and he was always willing to play make-believe with me and my brothers and cousins. But until that day I had absolutely no idea what he did for work. He never spoke about it. The next time we got together, my dad mentioned my newfound interest in social work, and I still remember the smile that lit Papa’s face. I thought we were close before, but sharing a passion brought us closer than ever. I’ll share more about Papa’s social work story in an upcoming post.
The college years
By the time I was 16, I knew what I wanted to do, but all the adults in my life seemed to be telling me two things:
You’ll never make any money in social work.
You’ll probably change your mind (and your major) a dozen times in college.
I went in with an open mind, but nothing swayed me. I remember my first social work classes. I remember the moments light bulbs went off as I learned how to be a better human, how to understand the world around me, how to reach my goals, and how to help others reach theirs. I was challenged and stretched and sometimes startled by the sobering truths I learned to face. But I loved it. It just made sense. I finished my undergraduate degree at James Madison University (Go Dukes!) and went straight on to graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, taking advantage of their Advanced Standing Program and the HRSA Fellowship for Integrated Behavioral Healthcare.
The next chapter
After graduation I landed my dream job at Children’s National Hospital. Working as a hospital social worker was truly a dream come true, and I will always have a passion for that beautiful work. There is certainly more to share on that topic and I am excited to dive deeper in future blog posts.
Another amazing thing about social work is there are many different paths within the field. I feel so lucky that within the same profession I can have many different careers depending on where my needs and interests wander. Right now, I am loving my work as a therapist, and I appreciate the path that led me here. At times, I am still haunted by the implications of my medical journey, but I wouldn’t trade it in. A lifelong illness became a lifelong passion.
If you’re looking for a therapist in D.C. or Virginia, or have questions about social work, send me a message! I’d love to chat. As always, thank you for being here, and take good care.
with love, HLP
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health care nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.
