Social Work & my life

This blog was driven by a harmless passing comment a friend made - "Singapore needs u" and a chat with a friend who wanted to enter the Social service industry. She asked me - Why Social Work?

In all honesty, when I started Social Work, my heart was never for the Singaporeans. Instead, I always thought that Singapore will be a passing phase in my life. One day, I will use Social Work as an entry to other countries.

So, why Social Work?

I grew up in a very comfortable environment. My parents will do everything in their means to provide for me. I always have this perception that Singaporeans are all like me - Provided for. (Can't blame a young girl's worldview right? =)) I mean, not like we are poverty stricken or not developed as compared to a few other countries. Other than youth gangs, I know nothing more of how the people in Singapore couldn't be more blessed.

All righty, I was Engineering trained. Firstly, I was in the technical stream during my Secondary School days. Then I moved to Electrical Engineering in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Then I worked 3 years in 2 Engineering companies AND I finally furthered my studies in Electrical Engineering too (Most logical path). Into my 3rd Semester studying my B.Eng in Australia, I knew that I totally dislike Engineering. What triggered those emotions is one whole month of depression over projects, workshops, tutorials, lectures. I was so depressed to the point of crying almost everyday. There was a time when I was in my lab & I received a call from my best friend in Singapore. Tears just flow upon hearing that warm voice.

I prayed over it, I thought about it & God somehow brought my thoughts to what I like to do when I was young - Listen to my friends problem. (That's why my dad often scold me for always hogging the phone. Thank God for mobile phones now!) After knowing my purpose, I easily got over my depression & put my heart to study well to get what I started out to do - to obtain a degree in Engrg. (All praise to God for I couldn't have done it without His favour)

And so I came back to Singapore and economy was down and I remembered what God reminded me - my love for listening to friends. That was when I start to struggle BIG time with the choice of dropping Engineering or to pick up Social Work. Other than the fact that money was good & that I could be more generous towards my family, I really do enjoy my days as an Engineer (before I furthered my studies). As I prayed, I was almost certain that I heard God leading me towards working with people.

The process to let go of Engineering was not one that can be described as fun. Classmates & friends around me ask me almost everytime they meet me why I make such decision. On a personal note, I struggle with guilt towards my family for choosing jobs that's either too low-paying or not what I studied. While studying, on and off, I will wonder "Is this really for me?"=

So, after a nutshell of "long" story cut to the shortest that I can, in my 18 months of studies to be a Social Worker, I have NEVER thought that I need to prepare myself to serve the Singaporeans. To begin with, one thing that I really struggled most is the culture in Singapore. Man! I can almost hear my mother's nagging "LIve in Singapore for 23 years, leave for Australia for 2 years and you can't get used to Singapore's culture?!" God MUST have been watching over me cause while I was studying, I was actually blessed with a polyclinic job with a job scope that require me to deal with human beings directly (e.g. complains, complains and er.. more complains). NOW.. That really prepared me for what I will be handling as a Social Worker.

Before I started my internship, I tell you, I really prayed real HARD.. REAL REAL hard.. REAL hard that I will be able to have compassion and love for the people in Singapore. I have NEVER thought how "poor" people can be - financially, mentally, emotionally or even spiritually till I started praying. God is good.. He caused me to see things which I have never seen before. He caused me to love people with NOT my strength BUT His. Not my love BUT His.

As mentioned a few para before, I have always felt that I will go overseas. But amazingly, there was ONE day when God spoke SO clearly to me - Before you love anybody overseas, love where you are now.

Currently, I really enjoy my job. It has it's challenges definitely. I have days of helplessness. I have days when things just go wrong. I have days when I get scolded by clients (like today). But I really still enjoy it. Whether I make a good social worker, I really don't know. But I do know that God will lead and guide me.

So back to the statement - Singapore needs you. What a long journey I have come to start loving the people whom I am serving. I think there isn't exactly anybody who needs anybody. If it's spoken in the perspective of love - Love is cultivated. It's not just there all of a sudden. True.. Our hearts are limited. God is unlimited. Our love is conditional. God's love is unconditional.