Social Work Personal Statement

When I was a young girl in elementary school, every year during Career Day, we would be asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. Every year I would listen to my classmates shout out various careers from firefighter to veterinarian to teacher. I had a difficult time understanding why a career wouldn’t cross my mind, why I couldn’t picture myself as a working woman. I had support from teachers who always believed I was bright and had potential. However, I still lacked the motivation and I didn’t realize that despite growing up in a western society, I was still restricted by my culture and family dynamics. The only titles I ever visualized having were wife and mother. As honorable as those titles are, pursuing my education first became a significant
My interest in social work has been rooted in me since childhood. My family moved to the United States when I was one year old and many years later I still witness the struggle to adapt to western society. The struggle lied in holding onto our culture and values while adapting this new lifestyle and being supportive of one another as we attempted to assimilate. I have witnessed mental breakdowns, parents who have been abusive to each other, and siblings who have taken their life for granted. It was viewed as unthinkable and inappropriate to seek help from health professionals regarding our mental health and well-being. Very few people outside of immediate family were even aware of any issues or anxiety that we experienced. My siblings and I felt the impact of the toxic environment we were in and I couldn’t be more thankful to overcome the damage of my past. I have embraced my experiences rather than allowing it to disable me in moving past them. As difficult as it may have been to be surrounded by a large family yet still feel lonely, I wouldn’t have grown up to be the person I am today and possess the significant qualities that I do if it weren’t for those experiences. I have not only become independent, but also resilient in dealing with obstacles. It has allowed me to have a better understanding of peoples’ emotions and motives as well as helped in learning to better empathize with people. I
I wanted to learn more about human behavior and apply psychological theories not only in personal development, but also in the workplace. I am currently fortunate enough to be employed as a Counselor at a nonprofit behavioral health organization that serves adults and children suffering from various mental illnesses. I have also worked with people with co-occurring disorders such as substance abuse and schizophrenia. Working for the organization has given me insight and experience with communicating effectively with the population. I have used my ability to advocate and work for people from all ages and backgrounds in learning how to cope with their mental illness. I have run therapeutic groups to help clients develop skills necessary to overcome barriers, but also focused on individual needs. Prior to working as an Residential Counselor, I worked as Registry Consultant in Babies R’ Us while attending school full time. I provided consultations for new parents and was able to communicate effectively to address individual needs. As rewarding as my current work is, I want to further my education and pursue clinical social work. Becoming a professional social worker will allow me to increase my knowledge in the field and become an additional force that serves the