Social Work Personal Statement

Personal Statement of Education and Career Goals My interest in social work stems from a variety of childhood experiences. Growing up in Watts, in South Central Los Angeles, exposed me to a culture-filled community, although systemic issues plagued my hometown. I was fortunate enough to watch my single mother strive as a social worker in our community, providing a unique insight into the rewards and challenges of the profession. I once asked what prompted her to choose this field. Growing up, she mentioned having a lack of direction in her life, and her love for helping others led her to find a career aligning with her passion. I could sense the fulfillment she gained from getting people back on their feet, and her response stuck with me.

After acquiring inspiration from my mother and the community that I come from, I realized my passion for social services. I am determined to use my interest in human behavior to understand and help others. Being among those who needed resources and offering a helping hand was my priority when choosing a career path.

The resources my community lacked were clear to me as a child. As I grew into a young adult, I naturally gravitated toward becoming a clinical social worker. Although I had little exposure to the profession as a child, thankfully, I used my access to the internet to research psychology and the careers that followed by studying clinical therapy as a form of mental health treatment. I exposed myself to books, documentaries, and articles that focused on abnormal psychology and how it affected the lives of individuals. This strengthened my connection to the significance of monitoring and caring for the mental health of others. In addition, I was a psychology intern with the Thaddeus Resource Center for six months during my last semester as an undergraduate student and after graduating with my

This has allowed me to be among recent MSW graduates as they train to enter the field as child welfare social workers and receive more education on the issues that are plaguing the social work field. In this role, I assist trainers in training newly hired social workers in child welfare practice. Being with different cohorts throughout their journeys has highlighted what it truly means to be a social worker. From child maltreatment to child and family team meetings, I have learned a great deal about the work that goes into being a social worker on a micro-level. In this MSW program, I plan to use the skills I have developed from managing training and networking with trainers who hold LCSW certifications to enrich my studies. I want to bring my unique background and values into this program to extend the knowledge of social work that I have already