Medical Social Work Personal Statement

I grew up as the second of five children and was required to learn early on to sympathize with others. It was vital for me to understand how my siblings were feeling and why. In sixth grade, my classmates nominated me to be a Conflict Manager, a person that assists their peers in resolving conflicts. This early experience planted a seed of desire to help others. During my teen years I became a person whom my friends confided in. I have always enjoyed listening and learning about others. I have learned that everyone has struggles, and also possesses the capacity to change, including myself. My husband currently suffers from severe anxiety and panic disorder which limits many of the activities he can perform. Some examples include; he can’t drive to work, go grocery shopping, eat in public, be in large crowds, and limits his employment opportunities. His anxiety began after we had been married for nearly five years. Our family is living below the poverty line. I decided that the best way to improve our economic situation was for me to
return to school to earn a degree which would allow me to provide for my family, especially if my husband becomes unable to work completely.
6. When I first began college after high school, I possessed a fixed mindset. I believed there were certain subjects I wasn’t “good at” such as math and science. Since I had this belief, I didn’t give much effort to those courses. Fall semester of 2003 was a very stressful time for me. I was engaged and planning a wedding that would take place right after the end of the semester, searching for a job, and an apartment, and transferring from Weber State to Utah State for the Spring Semester. Needless to say, my grades suffered. Later in my college experience, I had to repeat Statistics and barely passed the science courses. In other classes I was content to getting B’s.
Once I decided to return to school for my bachelor’s degree, I knew I would pursue an MSW degree following graduation. In order to be accepted into graduate school I wanted to increase my GPA to improve my likelihood of being accepted into graduate school. I fully dedicated myself to my studies and set high expectations for myself, with a goal to earn A’s in every class, which was something I had never accomplished before. I worked diligently and spent countless hours studying and working on assignments. My dedication paid off and I have earned A’s in every class since Fall 2014. I plan on continuing to work hard as I finish the final year of my undergraduate degree and have a goal to earn A’s in my remaining courses.
I am dedicated and thorough in my school work. The only weaknesses I have is I probably spend more time than necessary working on assignments because I worry and stress over earning the highest grade possible. However, since beginning my practicum placement I have had less time to work on my studies, but have been able to use my time wisely to complete my schoolwork and still earn A’s in every class. As I continue my education in graduate school, I will apply this skill in balancing my time and still putting forth my best efforts in my studies.
I have learned many things from my struggles as well as the struggles of others. I have learned that people who suffer from mental illnesses can receive treatment. Individuals who suffer from mental illnesses may never be fully recovered, yet can still live fulfilling and productive lives. I have learned that everyone deserves to be treated with equality, dignity, and respect. I have also learned that with hard work and perseverance, goals can be achieved. My personal motto is: “You are braver than you think, smarter than you know, and more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” I repeat the motto to myself whenever I am facing a challenge. I hope to instill this motto as I work with others as a social worker. I have learned that through hard work and perseverance, one can accomplish their goals. I hope to be able to instill this knowledge to the people I will serve as a social worker, so they can discover their strengths, realize their capacity to accomplish their goals, and positively change their lives. 2. I possess many qualities that equip me for graduate school, such as dedication and determination. I am a hard worker and have the ability to work independently, as well as part of a group. I have the capacity to persevere, even when situations are difficult. I have excelled in school since 2014, therefore I am prepared for the more rigorous and demanding coursework of a Master’s program.
I possess self-awareness and am aware of my values and biases, however, I do not allow my values or biases to interfere with how I treat others. I believe that every person, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion, income, ethnicity, etc deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. I also have learned that everyone has strengths and possesses the capacity for positive change. I strongly believe in the social work value of social justice and have a desire to help vulnerable populations improve their lives.
3. I have the experience of working in situations and with people that are different from me in my volunteer service, education experience, and practicum. I have been a reading volunteer at a Title One Elementary School assisting children in gaining literacy skills and volunteered at a Head Start Preschool, both these experiences were with children from low-income families. I also volunteered at the Family Support Center LifeStart Village offering childcare services while the mothers attend various educational and empowerment classes. During my practicum placement at McKay-Dee Hospital, I have worked with patients from various cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.
3.
I have enjoyed my practicum experience as a Medical Social Work Intern and am also interested in Medical Social Work. I appreciate the opportunity of connecting patients to services, working with new mothers, and shadowing the NICU social worker, but I really enjoy offering them emotional support, especially patients experiencing a mental illness, which has led me to consider becoming a therapist, or working at a Behavioral Health Unit at a hospital. I am also passionate about helping vulnerable populations, especially families experiencing poverty. I have thoroughly enjoyed my educational experience and am also contemplating becoming a professor in the future. I have been privileged to have amazing professors who were knowledgeable and passionate about social work and I think it would be rewarding to teach, emulating these professors. I am also interested in research and attempting to find causes and solutions to social work
issues.
5. In order to become a social worker in the capacities described, I need an MSW degree and become a LCSW. I am seeking an MSW degree now because I will graduate in the Spring with a BSW. I would like to go straight on to graduate school while I am fresh from my experiences and education from my undergraduate work.
8. I am aware of the expense of graduate school. I on applying for scholarships and financial aid, but have made plans in case I do not receive any outside assistance. I have saved some funds from previous tax returns. I have been fortunate to not have any student debt from my undergraduate studies, therefore taking out student loans for graduate school will not cause a significant financial strain. I currently do not work, but my spouse does, and we are setting aside part of his income to help pay for school. We have family nearby that assist us in caring for my children while I have attended school, and they are committed to continue to help as I attend graduate school. I do not have any health or physical limitations that would prevent me from pursuing a master’s degree.