Table of ContentsSelf-AdvocacyLeadership and Policy MakingConclusionWorks CitedGrowing up, I always loved going to school. As a child growing up in a Nigerian household, education was always a priority. My experience in primary school was good. I always stayed away and did my homework. The majority of my teachers at the time were very involved, caring and supportive and ensured that each of their students were up to standard in teaching. I remember one teacher in particular who was very critical and closed-minded. She never hid the fact that she had students she selected as favorites in class. I remember sitting in class and listening to his lecture about the importance of doing our homework and how our future depends on it, otherwise we would be nothing and no one would want to hire us. She had a student she despised. This can be seen in his behavior, in the way she spoke to him, telling him that he would never amount to anything, that she made fun of him or made fun of his work in front of us, and when he fulfilled his duties, she had the nerve to say out loud, “Wow, did you really do that yourself?” I didn’t expect that from you.” I felt so sad for my classmate because he was afraid to come to school. I saw him cry every day during recess. I did everything I could to make him feel better. I told myself that I would never put people down or make them feel like they weren't good enough. At the end of the year, our teacher was replaced. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Middle school was supposed to be one of the most difficult times where we experience puberty, become in tune with our emotions, and find the need for socialization. interactions and building connections with our peers. I insisted that my academics were moving from a single teacher to multiple teachers. I'm stressed about my social life, I want to find out who my real friends were and I'm trying not to disappoint my parents at the same time. In college, it was very important for me to have at least one professor who became my mentor. I felt like I needed to be cared for by adults and peers and overall feel important to the school. I was very active and involved. My teachers were very open-minded when it came to building meaningful relationships between students and teachers. Which made learning so much fun and interesting. When I think about my high school experience, it was clear that the role of school was to educate me to be someone, so that one day, when I came out into the "REAL WORLD" like us have called, I can be productive and be a functioning member of society who can work and educate others. It finally hit me, even though my parents explained to me for countless hours why education was so important in previous years. I've had good and bad memories, mistakes, heartbreak, lessons and drama all while having fun. I learned the value of hard work and also gained independence. For example, making sure my homework is turned in on time. Take responsibility for my actions and become a responsible teenager as a whole. I made so many friends, played sports and did well on college teams, took summer classes just to get ahead. In high school, I had an unforgettable time. I would like us to learn more about the other aspectsof becoming an adult, like learning how to save money, how to buy a house or a car, how to build our credit. Learning the real responsibilities of life would have had a big impact on my high school experience. What I know now as an adult and working as a school social worker is that there is enough flexibility in the school system, especially today, for school social workers to be able to make an impact. and significantly change the lives of students. My experience in elementary school and middle school helped me the most when it came to working with students. I wanted to help silenced children be heard. My passion came from seeing my close friends being abused and neglected at home and having no one to talk to or give them the resources they needed to cope or manage the trauma they were experiencing. My work practices and perspectives come from knowing that changing the world starts with helping and being there for that person, being able to empathize and be aware of what they have been through. I grew up in a home with very involved and loving parents, but as I got older, I realized that not everyone had the same opportunity to have such an experience. Not everyone had a mentor or had that one person at school that they felt safe to talk to. I make sure my students know that I have an open door policy and that I am here to guide them in the right direction and be there to support them no matter what. Students are ready to be themselves when they have a meaningful connection with a trustworthy adult. Self-Advocacy School social workers play a vital role in schools and educational settings. Advocating for the best interests of our students is what we seek, as well as advocating for our own interests and the roles we play as an educational leader. Social workers must become their own marketing agents if they want to gain visibility and recognition within the school community. Self-advocacy is not always a cultivated skill among social workers. In order to get involved and advocate for myself, I know I have to have the confidence to believe that whatever I do or ask is what I deserve and what the school and our students need. I learned to never ask for less to increase my chances. My self-representation is intended for people to see the value of my role. Communicating what you believe in can be difficult, but I believe in the power of showing up, whether that means going into every class to present my role as a social worker. or present to the administration the positive changes I can make to our campus and how I would implement them, or even organize workshops for students, teachers and parents to come together to see how my role benefits the school. The way we present ourselves and ourselves can really change the way people treat and perceive us as social workers. If I'm ever in a space where I need to defend myself, I feel like people will believe in me, if I believe in myself. The more I speak, the more I believe it, the more others will believe it. Whether I'm creating a food pantry for our students and their families or teaching parenting classes, I have the voice and the power to try to make it happen. Times have changed and my role as an educational leader is to provide resources. , be a catalyst for change, a mentor, serve on district committees, work side by side with faculty and staff to improve the well-being of the population we serve and the.