Scvd Personal Statement

I am Shayla Padgett, and I work for South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD). I have over nine years of experience in human services; seven of those years are in rehabilitation. For the past two years I have worked as an Assessment and Career Exploration Specialist and a Job Preparedness Instructor for SCVRD. Using a variety of assessment tools, I assist our clients establish a vocational objective that coincides with their individual interests and abilities. In addition to assessments, I instruct classes that cover a variety of soft skills that prepare clients for careers. These are both integral functions of the rehabilitation process. The bulk of my experience in the rehabilitation field comes from working with consumers

Although I had no rehabilitation experience, I knew then that the rehabilitation field was where I belonged. I wanted a more hands on role, but I needed more relevant experience. I came back to SCVRD several years later with the experience I needed to play an active role in the rehabilitation process. I do not intend to stop there. Through my training in the agency and interacting with members of our leadership, I realized that eventually I would like to be a leader within the agency. Most leaders within our agency were either counselors at some point or they have Rehabilitation Counseling degrees. I believe in being knowledgeable in all aspects of our operations, especially in the broadest service provided by our agency, rehab counseling. This program is the first step in securing a future within the agency. While I love my current role, I look forward to continuing with the progress that I have made within the agency. I look to gain knowledge and first-hand experience of being a counselor so that I can apply what I learn to agency programs. This degree is essential to my path, whether I function in the role of counselor, in client services, or state level operations where I may develop