#1. Review your “sealed knowledge” envelope that holds your knowledge, bias, thoughts and questions about working with LGBTQ persons. Using the information you included in your envelope, reflect on what you know and how you feel as you answer the same questions now. I want to know that you have thought constructively about before and after this class and what has and has not changed. What is your growing edge (still struggling with)? Did anything surprise you when you reflect back on your “sealed knowledge”? What areas do you still need to work on? Where is your bias?
#2. Choose one subject matter from what we have learned of the following as it relates to LGBTQ+ people. Discuss what you will remember most about that topic and how you plan on incorporating what you learned about the overall topic into your professional career. I’m asking you to think critically and maybe even creatively about how this will/could impact your work and your clients. What are you bringing forward whether it’s practical, clinical, and/or philosophical as preparation for working with LGBTQ persons? Is there something you can say? show? buy? print? recite? do? send? practice? believe? ask? tell? insist? advocate for? Please make clear in your paper which subject matter you choose from the list.
a. Terminology
b. History
c. Identity Development
d. Coming Out
e. Families
f. Macro Practice
g. Life Stages
h. Health
i. Bullying/Violence
j. Religion/Spirituality
k. Workplace/Career
#3. As Social Workers, you will be tasked with caring and advocating for folks who are likely some of the most vulnerable, under-privileged, and oppressed. One of your toughest challenges will be maintaining your growing edge (always growing and learning as I hope you will remain a student of your profession) and maintaining your boundaries and self-care practices so that you can be present for those you will serve. How will you keep your “growing edge”? How will you stay current and challenge yourself to keep learning? How will you “get proximate”? How will you maintain your boundaries? And while you do that, what self-care practices will you incorporate into your personal and professional life so that you stay healthy, happy and effective?
Entries are to be at least three full pages of text but no more than five pages in length, typed (using 12-point, Times New Roman typeface), double-spaced, with 1” margins on all sides, and with no title page or abstract. Students are to use a one-line heading at the top of the first page, replacing their name with the last four digits of their LSU ID in the margin. Be sure and include a reference page and at least one scholarly citation not found on our syllabus. Essays submitted late will lose one point per hour.
Be thoughtful, Be thorough, Be true.
