Part 2 …. The Hardest Test of my Social Work Career

In the months following the most difficult experience of my career, I’ve had time to reflect — not just on what happened, but on what it revealed about me as a social worker and as a person.

One of the clearest lessons has been about boundaries. Social work asks us to care deeply, to show empathy, and to go beyond surface-level engagement. For me, that has always been instinctive — I want people to feel valued, safe, and truly seen. But this experience made me look closely at where the line sits between healthy, sustainable care and care that leaves you vulnerable.

I have been told before that I “care too much.” At the time, I resisted that idea — how could caring too much be a flaw in a profession built on compassion? Now, I understand it differently. Caring without boundaries doesn’t make you more effective; it can cloud your judgement, drain your energy, and, in some cases, put you at risk.

Boundaries are not about caring less — they are about creating the conditions to care well. They protect not only us, but also the people we support, ensuring that we are thoughtful, ethical, and able to make decisions from a place of balance rather than burnout.

This reflection hasn’t changed my core values. I still believe that relationships, trust, and kindness are the heart of this work. But I also know that my compassion needs structure — limits that allow me to keep showing up, not just in the good times, but in the hardest ones too.

The experience I went through has left its mark, but it has also given me clarity. My legacy, when I am ready to build it, will not only be about supporting others through challenges like mine, but also about helping social workers understand that boundaries are not a weakness. They are the very thing that allows our compassion to endure.