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I guess its time to move beyond my philosophical ramblings which have actually been going on for some time. One might accuse me of being all talk but no action, and frequently keeping my heads in the clouds within the realms between academia and idealism (but that is a topic reserved for much later discussion).
My first day at work in 2006, how size and fashion has changed....
The past week actually marked the day that I have officially completed 5 years as a social worker! I remember like how it was yesterday that I remarked to one of my colleagues (who then had completed 5 years), "Wow! How did you manage to stay so long in Social Work?!", in a blunt and non-empathic manner. How time has flown, and now I am 5 years old in the agency (and my colleague is now 10 years!! Bwahahah).
As a social worker, a great deal of self reflection is required in order to assess myself (and maintain my sanity) and contemplate on the simple mantra of Practicing what you Preach. Many a times, we take the position of the expert, passing down certain information based on our theoretical assessments on what should probably be the right thing to do. These beliefs and values are based on our own experiences as well as based on theoretical evidence that probably has been researched upon.
This, is officially my 100th Post.
As Social Workers working directly with individuals and groups who are vulnerable, we frequently come up with several hypotheses and theories to describe and label certain behaviours common to a group of persons. These labels may be construed according to common groupings of race, gender, age, or more specific labels such as “children of incarcerated parents”, “victims of spousal abuse”, “Youth at risk”, “Children with Autism”, and so on. It is interesting to note that oftentimes these labels intersect and overlap with each other, and one would question whether we are really able to predict and understand our client’s behaviour through the generalizations that we make in society today.
Many moons ago, when I was about 8 or 9, my mother was brought me to Thomson Yaohan to purchase a birthday gift for my cousin. We had our sights on purchasing the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy for my cousin. Being the charming youngest son, I was able to convince my mother that it was only fair that I too get a toy since my cousin was getting one (This was, in actual fact, my agenda all along). Do note that this was the period where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were all the craze (yes, I am that old).
I had set my sights on purchasing my favourite character Raphael (the mutant turtle sporting red eyebands), and proceeded to purchase the less popular (amongst my peers) orange-garbed Michealangelo for my cousin.
I applaud the latest changes made under the Woman's Charter Amendment Act in January that has taken into effect, where husbands who default on maintenance payments to their ex-wives after divorce will face new sanctions and penalties. This has been one area of social life, where women tend to be oppressed by their ex-spouses, and left with the multiple roles of caring for the children; and taking the bulk of financial burden as well.
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