Growing up in a small city with a big family and being the minority was a difficult time. As a child, I was …show more content…
embarrassed to have parents who spoke no English; as the children were the translator made it more difficult to communicate. With support from those around us, we overcame our welfare and took ownership of our future as an individual and together as a family. Where I stand today, was through the positive support I received and I wanted to do the same for others.
Some of my most favorite memories are during the beginning of the school year and the holiday season. My parents could not afford to buy school supplies, new clothes, and Christmas presents for all 7 children. We would wait in line for hours to receive supplies and Christmas presents. Now that I am older, I understand the struggles and it makes sense to the whys and what they did. Because of that I am very grateful to have become the person I am today and give back to the community. The MSW program will teach and provide me with adequate resources I need to apply in similar cases I personally experienced.
I have worked in various job fields that have helped me build my interpersonal communication skills. I have over five years working with a diverse population, including: low-income families, at-risk teens, the disable, and non-profit organizations.
My first career experience was a Case Manager with Catholic Charities CYO of San Francisco. It was definitely an eye opener from the other side of the desk. One of my professional experience that I had as a Case Manager was having a professional Program Manager. I faced a lot of personal challenges with my clients such as my age, I did not have children, I did not have experiences, and many more. The Program Manager taught me to speak, act, and show authority professional. With my weekly supervision with her, I noticed that I have become more confident with the clients and learned how to ease a dispute peacefully. From her supervision I still apply her teachings to my other work experiences.
Working in the social services field is truly rewarding and allows me to gain skills necessary to help meet the needs of others.
Making a positive impact to help the individual work towards a common goal is gratifying. When you guide them in overcoming their obstacles and challenges, it helps them gain control of their life and gives them a glimpse of hope for the future.
In addition, the MSW program will help me to guide individuals on how to identify issues and overcoming challenges. One of my goals is to encourage them to recognize their abilities and skills, and use it to their benefit, maximizing their potential. I believe once an individual recognizes their strengths and weaknesses; it will make them a stronger person.
To be successful, it takes both education and experience. I hope to gain adequate knowledge to obtain a career so I can help others transform their lives proficiently. After graduation, I want to gain a deeper awareness of social services and develop more practical skills and tools in empowering individuals. I also hope to work with an agency that specializes with families. When working for any agency, I look for reputation, leadership, and meeting my needs. Reputation is really important, as I want to know that the families are benefiting from the services. Having a supervisor who can lead their team is a great asset to my personal and professional goals. I also hope to supervise and lead a team of my own and revise program policies. Most importantly, I hope to work for an organization that will also meet my
needs.
Obtaining a Master’s of Social Work was always a goal to achieve. With the knowledge and experience gained from CSU East Bay’s MSW program I will continue to apply the social work ethics to my personal and professional goals. CSU East Bay’s MSW program caught my attention as it fits my needs and long-term goals. I plan to apply for Title IV Stipend along with any scholarship I may qualify for. I am confident I can uphold the responsibilities and expectations asked of as a student academically. I am a dedicated hard worker and have a strong work ethic that values honesty and integrity. My strong knowledge in assisting and implementing goals provide commitment to delivering high quality work. I am passionate with helping individuals build towards a self-sufficient lifestyle and an optimistic outlook in life. I need CSU East Bay’s MSW program to help add to my professional experiences and skills to further my career.