Stand By Your Values
by Sarah K. Sloan, LCSW
As a child of the 1970s in a small town in Texas, I questioned the vast differences in equality that I saw around me, especially in terms of race and poverty. There were a few role models who challenged such inequities, and these individuals helped shape my own path toward eliminating some of the disparity. Growing up, I didn't know anything about the profession of social work. However, I felt as if I was actively developing the values that would eventually lead me to this occupation. When I finally did encounter the principles and values of social work, I felt that I had found my home.
I choose the practice of social work and teaching every day because I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all humans, social and economic justice, the idea that change is possible, and that relationships are often the vehicle for the change. I love being a social worker. It is a privilege and joy to work daily with my personal values at the forefront of my mind.
Sarah K. Sloan, LCSW, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work.