The Philosophy of Helping

The Philosophy of Helping

R Herrera

Social Work

Dr. Caval

September 27, 2015

I believe that I’ve learned about caring for others, by watching those who cared for me while I was a child. Therefore giving me the guidance and aspirations to strive in becoming the same selfless caring person, as I became older. To which I have carry onwards with benevolent helpful action and intentions to those whom I encounter or interact with on a everyday consist basis.

My family wasn’t about gain of being helpful to those less fortunate; they would help just about anyone who was without something of important necessity, sometimes even after being wrongfully taken advantage of by certain unlawful individuals but nevertheless, they would still offer their aid to them regardless of their injustice towards them. Paving the way for me to clearly know what true unwavering compassion and understanding helpfulness was all about. My family believes wholeheartedly in the social changing of professional help from the community and the government, even though they believe those working in such line of work are failing at the much needed assistance to the social change of communities.

I grew in a lower economic class neighbor; most of my neighbors were on welfare or some government assistance programs. And after bearing witness to the struggling, strong willed lower class families I was moved to do something more whenever I got older. As I got older, I had learned about social work and their enriched involvement with lower and middle class families and neighborhoods.  Which has lead me here to acquire the knowledge to become a Social Worker.

There was a time where my mom let in a homeless older veteran during a serve storm, although his stay was supposed to be temporary but my mother saw he was in much need of companionship, therefore she offered to let him stay as long as he felt necessary. He stayed for a few months until he unfortunately had passed away in the night clutching pictures of loved ones; wife, kids and his parents along with three flags, which mom and I had sadly come to find out they were his wife’s, and two children’s. The VA refused him a hasty proper burial, they had offered to cremate him and discard his ashes at the same crematoria to which they cremated him in. My mom disheartened by this paid for a small plot, headstone and casket for him, costing well over family budget but nevertheless she convinced my dad to let him rest with dignity. The funeral consisted of Me, My Mom, My Dad and a Few of the Homeless treasured memorabilia’s. This had brought forth a new-found conviction of seriously pursuing a career in helping others.  

I currently have housed in my own home a middle aged veteran. I did this because I had noticed he was sleeping under a bridge while he was sick and a memory of my mom’s profound kindness to that homeless elderly veteran came drifting back to me and I knew there was something I could offer him. But in turn after he had gotten better he also begin show me random acts of unselfish kindness and companionship, building a infrangible friendship between us.

     Integrity: I have strong integrity but it is weaken when I help someone and they are ungratefully conformational. Importance of Friendship: I’m in need of friendship and can easily gain but the importance of having friendship is what weakens me especially when someone I befriend turn and uses me or takes advantage of my kindness. Hard-working: I am dedicated hard worker which is also my weakness because I over work and underline the details of my intended project.