“I Wish I Knew”: Helping Social Work International Students Achieve Their Clinical Professional Goals

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Keywords:

social work education, social work practice, critical reflection, foreigners, immigration

Abstract

Driven by my personal experience and a desire to understand the journey of social work international students in the United States, I conducted interviews with three social work professionals. These individuals had completed their social work training as international students in the US. The aim of this study was to delve into and share the experiences of these social work international students, particularly in their pursuit of social work professional and career goals. The study focuses on how these students navigate immigration and social work-related policies during and after their program and offers insights on how to alleviate some of the challenges they face.

Author Biography

Rujeko O. Machinga-Asaolu, Boise State University

Rujeko O. Machinga-Asaolu, PhD, CSW is Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Boise State University, Boise, ID (rujekomachinga@boisestate.edu).

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Published

2025-12-28

How to Cite

Machinga-Asaolu, R. O. (2025). “I Wish I Knew”: Helping Social Work International Students Achieve Their Clinical Professional Goals. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 31(4), 20–33. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2129

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