It has been way too long since I've posted anything here. I was pretty overwhelmed with starting my graduate programs, and have been constantly overwhelmed since. It's a great program (MSW at UPenn), but it's a lot. One of the reasons I love it so much is that from day one, students are placed in the field three full days a week. I have always been more of a hands-on learner, and I think this aspect of the program really makes it stand out from others. I have wonderful, brilliant professors who make the two days I am in the classroom an enjoyable experience. My favorite professor, who taught "Foundations for Social Work Practice"--our only year-long course which revolved around our field placements, died tragically in a bike accident in the middle of the semester. In the short time I knew him, I learned so much, and actually remembered what I learned weeks later. He made me excited to get up on Wednesday mornings and show up in our window-less classroom at 9am. Every class was like a comedy routine, filled with personal anecdotes about social work practice, from his 30 or so years as a private practitioner. His energy and enthusiasm for the field filled up the room, made people smile, and often made me crack up. Another gift he had was making people feel unique and special. He remembered everyone by name, and when he visited our field placements, he raved about us to our supervisors, telling them how lucky they were to have us. One could argue that anyone could talk up a student, but he would actually quote things we had said in class, or bring up a small part of our histories we had shared the first day during introductions. I often remember little things he said, or advice he gave about social work practice. This week, a classmate started an email that has been circulating with different "Joe-isms" people wrote down in their notes from class. I leave you with them:
"Social workers have to know how to do good phone"
"Get to know the receptionist and support staff at any agency. they are the Main Grape on the gossip vine."
When you're on a home visit, never sit down in the kitchen." --this was never explained
(Comparing the medical model) "you came to see me, there's something wrong with you" (with the 'Social Work jargon model') "oh no, everything's beautiful, we'll be friends!"
(On referring to George W. Bush talking about "terrorists) *They hate us because of our freedom. No, they hate us because we've been bombing their asses for the past 30 years.
"Less said, best said sometimes."
"He who laughs, lasts." -Mary Poole
"Wherever you are, be there." -Ghandi
"When you find your place, practice begins." -Dogen
(On clinical practice) "There isn't a damn thing we do in social work that doesn't require clinical practice."
(On something a text book author said about assessment) "Social workers can also obtain records from other sources... yeah good luck getting that."
"We’re social workers, we’re not Republicans"
"If you ever want to understand how the world works, go outside and look at the Wharton Business School building. Then look at Castor. Look at Wharton. Look at Castor. You’ll get it"
"If you’re going into Social Work, you’re already a yenta."
"Don’t have sex with your clients. EVER."
"Social workers are historically the dowdiest dressers in an office."
"Don’t use your clients’ real names when you talk about them. Whenever I accidentally do that, I cover it up by saying, 'But of course that’s not their real name.' Works every time. Well, it did."
(On contracting) "Successful contracting helps the client want what they need."
(On making sure the client understand the contract) "Do it early, do it clearly."
(On strengths perspective) "There is tremendous power in the spoken word. What we say and how we say it matters."
(On beginnings / building a relationship with clients) "Clients don't come to you because they need a friend."
(On middles) "Like walking in mud."
(On endings) "You are always going to be dealing with endings."
