On the Way to Be(Coming) a Social Worker: Phenomenological Reflections by Social Work Students on Their Final Year as a Site of Professional Identity Exploration.

This article focuses on the professional identity (PI) formation of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students during their final academic year, a critical transitional period from student to professional. Using photovoice methodology with twenty-nine Israeli social work students, the study identifies four key themes characterizing this liminal phase: being in between student and professional identities, separation from the student role, the "doorknob effect" reflecting anxiety about time running out, and the imaginative process of stepping into professional roles. The findings emphasize that PI formation is an ongoing, fluid process involving grief, uncertainty, and creativity, underscoring the importance of reflexive educational spaces to support students and early-career social workers in navigating this transition.