What I hope to achieve in adult life
It is worthwhile and proper that one should plan about one’s future early or may end merely as dream. Everyone is given with certain talents and one should make full use of them for ones future welfare and happiness. Some people desire to make money, some to make a name and some to be useful to society. So I have decided to become a social worker and serve the poor, the suffering and the needy.
This idea of becoming a social worker has not come to me all of a sudden. In a way it has been the result of reading the lives of great men and women who dedicated their lives to the service of the suffering. From Gautama the Buddha to Mother Theresa I have studied something about their lives and how they suffered and worked for others. Gautama the prince became the Buddha after seeing the sufferings of his people. Much nearer there is instances of Father Damien who lived and died for the sake of the lepers. Dr. Schweitzer obeyed a call and went to Central Africa and served the people by establishing a hospital at Lambarene. Then there is the example of Gandhi who worked to improve the lot of the so-called untouchables who were social outcasts. He called them affectionately the Harijans or the people of God. Then there is Mother Theresa who got the coveted Nobel Prize for peace for her service to the sick, the suffering and the dying in the streets of Calcutta. The more I read about them and the more I thought of them I too was interested in becoming a social worker. After all what is the point of being a human being if one cannot serve his fellow beings. True, good samaritans are rare; but there is nothing wrong in a person trying to become one.
To become a good samaritan is not easy. One must be prepared and get mentally the necessary training for it. As the saying goes “charity begins at home”. So I started helping my people at home in every possible way. I would help mother in her kitchen, my father in polishing his shoes, wash and iron the family clothes and other house chores. I also started helping my neighbors once in a way by running errands for them. I began loving the old people, visiting the slum areas and talk to people about their difficulties. I would also go round collecting my old clothes and distributing them to the poor.
It was not exactly what I did but it also how I reacted. My mental makeup was ready to serve, once I erased the self. So as a social worker, I was not on the lookout for any personal gain whenever I did something for someone.
To become a social worker I began studying some books on sociology to know something about it. Theory was not enough; so I got into touch with several societies doing social work. For example, there is the Red Cross Society doing a good lot of work both in peace and war. There are also other voluntary organizations doing social work.
There are of course difficulties on the way. My parents never approved because my career as a social worker did not bring any money or fame. Life itself may be hard as a social worker and, until one’s work is recognized one may not be regarded as genuine and is appreciated. Even friends may scoff at the notion and even society itself may be suspicious till one’s bona fides are proved.
Still after taking all these into consideration, I have made up my mind to become a social worker.
