Social Work as A Second Career

A series on UTCSW students who chose to start a second career in social work.

Social Work is often referred to as a “found” major or career, meaning it is not the major or career that someone started out to do but was later found through personal experience or on the advice or recommendation of others.  

Many students at the UTCSW are studying social work as their second career. Over the next several months, the college will explore these students’ choices for why social work seemed to be the perfect choice as their second or sometimes third career.  

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Summer Rose Selby

What program/year are you in?
I am in my first year of classes as a full-time MSSW student.

What was your previous career?
My previous career was in elementary education, and I worked in this field for five years. 

What made you decide to pursue social work?
I decided to pursue social work because I wanted to make a difference outside of the classroom. I felt very limited inside the classroom, but I knew I could do more for children and for their families as a social worker. 

What do you want to do with your social work degree when you graduate?
My goal when I graduate is to become a school social worker and have a private practice centered around substance abuse and family counseling. 

Do you have any advice for people who started down a different career path and why they may want to think about social work as a second career? 
My advice for people who started down a different career path is do not feel guilty for changing your career, but instead embrace this chapter. If you have a love for giving and making a difference in people’s lives, social work would be the perfect career for you! 

Anything else you’d like to add?
Don’t limit yourself! The professors and faculty are here for you and WANT to see your success and can’t wait to see you walk that stage!

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Blake Farnworth

What program/year are you in?
I am in the MSSW program.

What was your previous career?
I worked in secondary education as a social studies teacher for about 10 years.

What made you decide to pursue social work? 
I felt drawn to social work when students started approaching me for help with their personal challenges, which inspired me to shift from teaching to this new path.

What do you want to do with your social work degree when you graduate?
I want to be a school social worker and eventually also have my own practice.

Do you have any advice for people who started down a different career path and why they may want to think about social work as a second career? 
It’s incredibly fulfilling to support people through their toughest times. You have the chance to be the person you needed when you were struggling, and that’s something I truly cherish.

Anything else you’d like to add? 
Don’t be afraid to switch careers if you feel a strong pull towards something. Listening to that inner voice can bring great satisfaction, whereas ignoring it might leave you with regret.

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Steven Duke

What program/year are you in?
I am in the concentration year of the MSSW program.

What was your previous career?
My degree is in Pharmacy. I enrolled in Pharmacy school after studying for a bachelor’s in chemistry. My primary interest was in psychotropic medications to treat mental illness. I have practiced as a community pharmacist for several decades. This practice has some case management responsibility not much different than social work.

What made you decide to pursue social work?
I think that I can help people more in the social work field. I counseled a lot with patients concerning medications and came to see that psychotherapy can be as effective or an additive in many cases. The opioid epidemic and poor access to medical care were factors in my desire to help the more marginalized population.

What do you want to do with your social work degree when you graduate?
The field of addiction and recovery need LCSW’s for therapy especially related to the treatment of trauma. Trauma is my specialization, and I intend to treat trauma clients in the setting of addiction treatment or in private practice.

Do you have any advice for people who started down a different career path and why they may want to think about social work as a second career? 
I understand that it may be difficult to change careers due to many factors such as economic, social, and personal identity. Our system is set up for efficiency and production rather than individual personal growth. A career in social work allows one to gain a measure of self-actualization by helping others while being an independent practitioner.