Becoming A Social Worker : Rutgers University

I known about Rutgers New Brunswick through friends of mine who a Herd the University. They told me that Rutgers undergraduate degree programs are comprehensive and include a spectrum of majors. When I read about Rutgers, I found that Rutgers is truly impressive because of the way that the faculty, students, and community help to create an environment that celebrates dreams, empowers aspiration, and supports individual efforts. I also like Rutgers because they pair college degrees with experience. So, at Rutgers, I will take classroom instruction to a higher level through personal attention and hands-on experience.

Before I knew exactly what the social work profession consisted of, I knew I wanted a career that focused on helping others. I explored options including medical and nursing fields, but they did not fit what I was destined for. It was not until I began working in a mental health office for a Licensed Independent Social Worker and a Prescribing Psychologist, that I knew the social work field was for me. It was during that job three years ago when I learned the social work profession and its core values consist of helping others achieve the best life possible with what they have. It is seeing the possibilities that others do not see and assisting individuals in navigating through them with patience and perseverance. The social work

I began my social work studies over twenty-five years ago at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. I never questioned my decision to pursue a career in social work; I loved my classes and worked hard to learn as much as possible. But the information I gained in undergraduate school simply opened the doors of my education. Most of my learning has come through constant questioning, personal research, and especially through work and life experience. Through these experiences I have encountered the challenges faced by individuals, families, and society and have been able to further access and develop the innate personality traits and abilities that originally led me to study social work as well as learn and practice the many skills necessary to be a successful mental health counselor.

With a master 's level education in social work, I see myself envisioning clients’ health and well-being. As a student, I will study and practice techniques, beyond a generalist perspective, that will allow me to give clients hope and the ability to see something greater than what they are facing. Upon completion of a Master of Social Work direct practice degree and certificates in gerontology and mental health programs, I intend to become a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I will competently incorporate specialized skills in different professional settings while developing my knowledge of a wide range of social issues and professional standards. With commitment, I wish to develop skills that will enable me to create or find hidden resources and services for my future clients, create platforms through counselling for victims of trauma.

For this assignment, I decided to interview my aunt because she has been a social worker for about thirty years, and has a lot of experience. She attended Dominican college in Orangeburg, New York where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She then went to graduate school at Montclair State in New Jersey where she received her master’s in psychology. After this, she decided to go back to school for her MSW, which she received from SUNY Albany. Since she graduated, the only profession she has worked in is social work, and she is now a licensed clinical social worker. She loves what she does and is glad that she made the decision to become a social worker.

Growing up I witnessed my sister and grandmother deal with serious mental illness. My sister and grandmother both were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It has always been my passion to help them manages their episodes. Growing up witnessing these episodes I always knew that I wanted to help those who are struggling to cope with mental health issues. Social work is not just a passion of mine, but a solution to the struggles many people face every day. I learned my “caring and compassion” for others, from my mother. My early experiences were a driving force for me pursuing my master’s in social work. As a child, my mother took in adults, children, and families within our neighborhood and afar to aid them in difficult times. Whether it was for a meal, a night, or longer, she has spent her life caring for others. The passion my mother possessed for helping others has become my

A Rutgers education will not only allow me to grow as a college student but as a person overall. Graduating from Rutgers will hold a greater value in the outside world when I apply for jobs as this university has many well-known schools like the Business School or the School or Arts and Sciences. Since Rutgers is well known for their programs, this would allow me to be able to excel in my major of choice and be able to take different classes that would allow for my knowledge to grow more than it would at Rowan University. The classes that Rutgers will offer compared to Rowan would challenge me to work harder and push my limits in order for me to grow and succeed as a person. Having a Rutgers education will help my career goals because while I am there, I will have many opportunities to join clubs and organizations that interest me. Since I plan on

Holly McNabola is a clinical social worker in North Haven, Connecticut. She received both her BSW and MSW from Southern Connecticut State University. She graduated with honors in 2000. For the past 16 years Holly has had a very diverse experience working with clients who struggle with substance abuse, mental health, medical issues, and more. She provides individual and family therapy and loves what she does.

Why do I choose Rutgers University over other high learning institutions in the United States? Through extensive web researches, I come to know that Rutgers has a long, meritorious history since 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the USA which is now the flagship of New Jersey’s public higher education and is a leading research institution among American universities. I have no doubt about its legacy of producing outstanding graduates and notable

I have also gained some insight into mental health and substance abuse while working as a youth counselor with children from the Department of Mental Health Services (DMH) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and as a mentor and tutor at Lowell High School. These field experiences instilled in me further the desire to become a social worker.

In all fifty states of America, it is probably hard for some students to pick which college to go to. Some would go Midwest, down south or all way to the west coast, but I believe that my state university will give me the best education. Only forty-five minutes away from home, Rutgers can offer me the greatest learning facilities, several of challenging classes and be part of a diverse community where I can achieve my personal enrichment and career goals.

Ever since I was a child, I loved helping others. Whether it was helping my mother take care of my little brother or helping my fellow classmates with an assignment, I was always there to lend a hand. This passion continued throughout my childhood and into early adulthood. When I began my undergraduate degree at Lewis University, I knew I wanted to help people in some type of capacity. I was guided to the path of Social Work because in this field I could combine both my passion for helping others and interest in social justice. After my first day in the Introduction to Social Work course at Lewis University, I knew that I had found my forever home. This career path would allow me to help others in a variety of different settings and capacities.

My life experiences from my childhood has shaped my desire to go into social work. I believe that I could use some of my personal experiences to help others in this world. Some of my relatives suffer from mental illnesses and has no resources to get the help they need. They received no treatment and some of them eventually were homeless

Starting from being a certified nursing assistant, to becoming a unit secretary for a hospital that specialize in wound care, I have always known that I wanted to help individuals in need. However, I noticed that I was not happy with helping individuals in medical need. It wasn’t until I decided to continue my education that I introduced to the world of social work. Going up with a single mother that suffered from drug abuse, my family depended on social services for a lot of assistance, from everything such as food stamps to family counseling. This life experience helped guide my thoughts on pursuing social work as a career. I know that I want to help individuals that are down on their luck, but I want to take it one step farther, by providing individual counseling to adults that may need more one on one time, than what is normally given from a social service agency. Counseling will also give me a chance to do what I love most and that is to talk and get to know the individuals that I am helping make like changing decisions. Working as a clinical social work has my interest because it does not put limits on what I can do or who I can help, and it will set me up for my future goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker. Being my own boss and changing my community is my dream job, opportunity and goal. I am currently on my way with changing my community and living my dream, because I am currently working for a non-profit

Every worthwhile journey begins with one step. My social work journey began when I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Utah in 2003. I thought my next step would be to immediately pursue a graduate degree. In my undergraduate career I had taken numerous classes from the College of Social and Behavioral Science and had done well in those classes. In my Social Work as a Profession course I had an assignment to shadow a social worker and write a paper about my experience. I chose to shadow my father-in-law, a social worker with over 30 years of experience, and in my paper I expressed my desire to go into the social work field. I knew I liked helping people. I knew I liked problem solving and critical thinking. I thought my 22 year-old self was ready to embark on that journey, but I wasn’t. I realize now that what I lacked at graduation was one crucial step… perspective. Over the past twelve years I have gained that much needed perspective and have taken many steps forward in my journey, and with those steps and that increased perspective, I now feel more fully prepared to begin my social work career.