My Journey to Social Work: Matthew Mitchell
NASW-NC would like to introduce you to the new 2015-2016 NASW-NC Board of Directors.
Each of our amazing board members chose the profession of social work for a reason and we would like to share their stories with you. Stay tuned for a post about each of the social workers who represent YOU on the NASW-NC Board.
Matthew Mitchell, LCSWA, LCASA
South Central District Representative
My initial thoughts when thinking of a career during college were, “I’m social. I like to work. I’ll be a social worker!”
Just kidding…
I don’t think I found social work. I think it found me.
It’s been an interesting trajectory. I was really frustrated in 2009 graduating with an awesome degree in Landscape Architecture but nowhere to use it. I went to my local community college to seek the guidance of a career counselor. We discussed my personal life, career goals, and then she later asked, “Well, what would you do for free?” “What would you want to do with no money or strings attached?” We began discussing my volunteer experience working with children and adults volunteering through ministry work and non-profits. She suggested I look into a career in social work or counseling.
I realized that many of my life experiences and volunteer work related to what social workers do for a living. My internal thought process was, “Well, you are already doing the work, you may as well get paid for it.” (There was a little more to it than that.)
I later realized that most of us go into this type of work in order to heal some part of ourselves or work toward resolving injustices we have witnessed. I think at that point I was convinced social work is the type of work I was made to do.
I’m excited to allow my life and career as a social worker unfold.
#keepcalmandsocialworkon
#meninsocialwork
Matthew Mitchell
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Learn more about the NASW-NC Board of Directors and what NASW-NC does for the social work profession in North Carolina
Learn more about past and present NASW-NC Board Members.
NASW-NC Social Work Blog 