Social Work Personal Statement

It is with great excitement and ambition that I am applying to the Master of Social Work Graduate Program at the Uxxxxxy of Xxxxx. My journey has been one of faith and courage, and this is a dream come true. I began to pursue my education more than twenty years ago at Xxxxx University. I successfully completed my first two years of college but the third year I returned home because my mom was ill. I had plans to re-enroll in school the following year but instead I spent the next twelve years working at a community center. I always dreamed of being first in my family to graduate college, but I thought too much time had passed to return to a college campus, so I gave up. However, I knew that for me to finish my education and get my degree,
I had to go back to school. I started to question who I am, why I am here, and what my purpose is. Driven to fulfill my purpose, I cast the fear and doubts aside I opened my mind, and I embraced the new challenge. In the summer of 2011, I enrolled at Xxxxxx College. This was my second chance for a better life. I always wanted to make a difference in my family, and in my community, I have a sincere passion for helping people solve problems and empowering them to overcome obstacles that are keeping them from achieving their goals. Since I have been studying at Xxxxxs, I have been on the President’s list and maintained a 3.9 GPA. My junior year at Xxxx, I developed a true sense of purpose when I had the opportunity to volunteer at the YWCA (Shelter for battered Women).
I am passionate about abused women and children, or people living in abusive situations. I am a domestic violence survivor and no one should be abused mentally, physically or emotionally. My mission is to empower women so they can live independently. I want to advocate for programs that will bring awareness and provide better funding for resources for women and children. In order to achieve my career goals, I will do more research to learn about current social, economic, and community issues as well as how to obtain resources to improve social conditions. I desire to learn more about social policies and how they affect the social work profession. I have a passion for helping people who are struggling or experiencing a hard time overcoming obstacles. As a social worker, I will encourage the client to want to make positive changes in their life by helping them understand their potential. I understand that if I apply the social work person centered theory to encourage the client to make positive changes along with general social work skills; it would help me build better communities around the
world. My strength is working with the homeless population, people suffering from drug addiction and people living with HIV/AIDS.
I want to help them develop new coping skills, so they will not be hindered by past negative experiences. My undergrad internship is at AIDS Alabama. I have learned that HIV/AIDS, homelessness and substance abuse disorders are intricately related. We use the harm reduction model to prevent homelessness and behaviors that increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. The human behavior class I took at Miles helped me to understand how a person's social environment influences the choices they make in life. I want to devote my professional career using these theories to help adults and families overcome internal and external challenges they
face. If given the opportunity to complete the Masters of Social Work program, I will fully commit to focusing on my education. I am able to do this because my husband has taken full financial responsibility for my family while I complete this journey. A Masters of Social Work will not only equip me to serve my client population, but it will aid me with managerial decision-making and research skills and to develop expertise in the core areas of social work. I choose the University of Alabama because, for many years they have been responsible for educating social workers committed to serving the community. Xxxxxxx who serves as the Director of the Social Work department at Xxxxxx and my instructor Xxxxxx is both Graduates of the Xxxxx of Xxxxx. They both have reassured me that this prestigious University is equipped to give me the tools I need to be an effective professional social worker.