Pharah Zenon, MSW

I attribute my success to staying focused and determined, because for me, success was the only option and failure was never one of the options. I have been blessed to have a community that I can not only pour into, but one that has poured into me throughout my journey. My mentors saw potential in me that I hadn't yet seen in myself, and they encouraged me to have more faith in my own abilities. That guidance gave me the confidence to embrace leadership opportunities and continue growing. I also credit my success to my ability to connect authentically with the families and individuals I serve, and to my commitment to honesty in all my interactions. What keeps me going is my unwavering focus on the mission and my determination to leave every person I encounter better off than how I found them. The relationships I have built with my peers, my team, and the community remind me daily why I do this work, and those connections have been essential to sustaining me through the challenges. While I sometimes feel I haven't accomplished enough, I find deep fulfillment in the private victories and the knowledge that I have helped create stability, permanency, and hope for vulnerable children, families, and elderly individuals who needed someone to advocate for them and never give up on them.

The best career advice I ever received was to have more faith in myself and trust in my own abilities. When you're so busy doing the work, it's easy to lack faith in yourself and doubt what you're capable of. My mentors and supervisors saw potential in me that I hadn't yet seen in myself, and they encouraged me to believe in my strengths. They helped me recognize that my ability to connect authentically with families and my honesty were real benefits and assets in this work. That advice to stop doubting myself and have more confidence in what I could offer has been transformative. It gave me the courage to step into leadership roles, embrace new opportunities, and continue growing as both a supervisor and a clinician. Looking back, I realize that sometimes we need others to reflect back to us what we cannot yet see in ourselves, and having people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself made all the difference in my career journey.

My advice to young women entering social work is to first identify what population or field you are truly passionate about, and then commit yourself fully to it. As women, we are naturally nurturers, but it's essential to find the specific area that resonates with you deeply, not just today but tomorrow as well. Once you discover that passion, create opportunities that align with your values and your calling. Being passionate about the people we serve is essentially why we all come into social work, and that passion will sustain you through the difficult moments. I also encourage young women to focus on leaving people better off than how you found them. That commitment should guide every interaction and every decision you make. Build strong relationships with your peers and the community, because in social work, it's not only what you know but also the relationships you build that will remind you why you do this work. Seek out mentors who can see potential in you even when you cannot see it in yourself, and have faith in your abilities. Remember that this work can be emotionally demanding, so having a clear sense of purpose and a supportive community around you will be essential to your success and longevity in the field.

One of the biggest challenges I face in social work right now is not being able to provide adequate stability and resources to the elderly population. They are incredibly vulnerable, and many of them don't have family members who can come into their lives and advocate for them because their family has passed away or they never had children. Not having the resources available for them, or being unable to connect them with someone who can support them, is an area where I always feel a bit hopeless. The housing crisis here in Massachusetts compounds these challenges significantly. A one-bedroom apartment with no utilities costs about $1,800, while our minimum wage is only $15 an hour. That crisis in itself creates enormous barriers for the vulnerable populations we serve, making it incredibly difficult to help people secure stable housing and the foundation they need to thrive. At the same time, there are tremendous opportunities in social work, particularly for women. We have the chance to serve various large populations across different roles and settings. Whether working with children who need permanency and adoption, families experiencing crisis in the community, or elderly individuals facing complex challenges, there are diverse pathways for women to make meaningful impact. The field offers opportunities in direct service, clinical work, supervision and leadership, and community advocacy. As the need for mental health services, family support, and crisis intervention continues to grow, women in social work have the opportunity to shape stronger, healthier communities and create lasting change for the most vulnerable among us.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are compassion, empathy, teamwork, determination, and focus. One of the most important values to me is establishing healthy relationships, because in social work, it's not only what you know but also the relationships you build with your peers and the community that sustain you and remind you why you do this work. I am deeply committed to leaving people better off than how I found them. That principle guides every interaction I have, whether I'm working with children in foster care, families in crisis, or elderly individuals who need advocacy and support. Being able to make sure that I serve people and improve their circumstances is what fills my cup and keeps me going. I also value determination and staying focused on the mission, because for me, success was always the only option and failure was never something I considered. I believe in being honest and authentic in my connections with the families and individuals I serve, and I have learned that my ability to connect genuinely with people is one of my greatest strengths. Teamwork is essential because we cannot do this work alone. We need strong relationships with colleagues, community partners, and the people we serve to create meaningful, lasting change. Finally, I am passionate about serving vulnerable populations with dignity and ensuring that everyone, especially those who have been abandoned or forgotten, has access to stability, connection, and the opportunity to thrive.