Fear, Failure, and the Social Work Exam
Obtaining success, receiving licensing, and certifications is not just a measure of competence, but often a measure of confidence. You have to outwork everybody else to achieve your goal. You have to be self-motivated and willing to go the extra mile to capture your dream, while others slow down, fade, and even discontinue their efforts to persevere.
Though I may have finished graduate school with honors, school was never something that just came easy for me, I really had to work extra hard. It was the same way when I studied for my LGSW, and my LCSW exams. I spent long hours of preparation getting ready for each exam, but still had to take the exam a second time. Now as a consultant, some might say, “why would you voice to potential clients your failures.” Well, because I owe this information to someone, who was like me, who may be doubting their ability to nail this exam. It’s not all about the money and clients for me at this point. It’s about encouraging you regardless of who you choose to provide your supervision.
The Power of Transparency
One thing that encouraged me while I was preparing for my exam was hearing the stories from others whom I had a high level of respect for, individuals whom I felt were intelligent, smart, who humbled themselves and became transparent about their struggles before their triumphs. Hearing from a friend who worked on the Social Work Board of Examiners tell me that she did not pass the exam the first time, but kept trying, and later passed was inspiration. I also heard similar stories from another friend of mine who was a licensed physical therapist, and yet another friend of mine who was a licensed attorney.
I was astonished to hear about their failures. It made me feel as though there was hope for me, and maybe taking the test truly isn’t strictly a measure of competence but confidence. When you are confident in yourself you can change the world. When you are confident, you learn to ignore and forget about the failures in your past. When you are confident, you allow your anxiety to work as a function of motivation, not as a function to limit and control you. When you are confident you refuse to lay down when you have hit a bump in the road. You lick your wounds and say, “my future is not the adversity of yesterday, my future is my vision now.” You press forward despite the odds.
No one will ever ask you on an interview, “so how many times did you take the board.”
No one will ever ask you on an interview, “so how many times did you take the board.” When I acquire contracts from various institutions, no one ever asks these questions, because my work speaks for itself. Once you pass the exam, the perception of failure you once had, will be hard to remember. You, like myself and those who encouraged me will enjoy the fruits of your labor not just for yourself, but as a testament to others of how success comes to those who persist. Schedule your exam today, and share with someone your journey. Take a look at this motivational video.
