No matter your reason for choosing a career in social work, striving to effect positive change in others’ lives is both challenging and rewarding.  You might see clients fail to buy into the change they need; you might inadvertently absorb the traumas of a client; or you might find yourself working in an agency that demands much of your time and energy. But you might also see tremendous growth and healing. You might even be able to influence the trajectory of another person’s life. The ability to balance the challenges with the inherent rewards is something new practitioners must seek to do. By focusing on the positive aspects of practice this week, you begin to envision yourself in the role and identify what might keep you going despite potential setbacks. In this Assignment, you consider the joys and rewards of practice, with your intended focus area of social work in mind. You also reflect on a personal or professional defining moment. To prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources on the joys and rewards of practice, as well as personal and professional turning points. 
• Recall the Week 1 Discussion, in which you identified your intended focus area in social work. With this focus area in mind, consider the potential joys and rewards of practice.
• Reflect on a “transformation moment” (a personal or professional turning point or defining moment) that led you to social work or that deepened or shifted your practice. 

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you:  

• Describe the potential joys of social work.
• Describe the anticipated rewards of practice within your intended focus area of social work.
• Analyze your experience of a personal or professional turning point or defining moment that led you to social work, or that deepened or shifted your practice.

Use the Learning Resources to contextualize and analyze your personal experience. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.