Social Work Graduate School Personal Statement

Introduction

I developed the desire to become a social worker ever since I was a teenager. It is important to note that I was bred and raised in an environment where there is abject poverty. I am an African-American who lived in a ghetto in my childhood and early adulthood life. As I grew up, I could observe people within my surrounding suffering due to poor sanitation, lack of adequate food, and insecurity among others. It is essential to note that overcrowding was a common phenomenon in the ghetto as one apartment could house many families. Due to poor sanitation, contagious diseases spread hastily and led to the hospitalization of many ghetto residents. Many families could not afford food for their children, and as a result, malnutrition was the order of the day. Most youths in ghettos engaged in criminal activities as a means of survival in the tough environment. Armed robberies were common, which led to the wounding of several victims and innocent bystanders. These conditions made some ghetto residences to develop depression and other mental disorders. Some even developed suicidal thoughts as a means of escaping from their hopeless lives.

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One instance that completely changed my life and made me develop the interest of becoming a social worker was when I became a victim of a street gun battle. It is essential to highlight that one day; I was walking home from school when street shooting ensured. Notably, two conflicting drug gangs were fighting to control the town. These groups could ambush and shoot one another to establishing supremacy in the ghetto. As I was running for safety, a stray bullet hit me on my abdomen, a situation that made me bleed profusely. Sooner, the Red Cross team, a not-for-profit organization, came and administered first aid measures before taking me to the hospital for further treatment. The thing that baffled me the most was the concern and the professionalism of social workers of this not-for-profit organization. They showed me empathy and cared for me in my critical situation. They encouraged and offered emotional support as they administered first aid to me. I would have bled to death that day if it were not for the Red Cross. It is from this act that I decided that I would pursue a career in social work and become a professional.

Another instance in my community that shaped my career path in social work was when a non-governmental organization visited ghetto and offered free services to thousands of families that were suffering from contagious diseases and mental disorders in the ghetto. They helped in connecting ghetto patients with resources and plans to enable them to cope with their conditions. They also provided counseling and education services to families on how to maintain good hygiene and sanitation to avoid contracting various diseases. The workers in this organization helped my community members to establish support groups which were instrumental in helping members avoid or alleviate stress and other psychotic conditions that affected them. In particular, I was so impressed by the manner in which social workers of this not-for-profit organization handled residents. They were caring, supportive, and concerned with the affairs of the community. Therefore, they played a critical role in influencing me to become a professional social worker.

My main career goal is to be a social worker in a school setting. It is paramount to mention that as a social worker in a school setting, I intend to keep appropriate client closeness. This will help me in breaching the barrier between my clients, who are majorly students, and me. As a result, I will be able to promote openness which will be prudent in offering the best services to clients. I will also strive to maintain records as well as ensure that they are safe and confidential. It is worthy to pinpoint that good record keeping will enable me to assess them quickly for purposes of making future reference. I will also collaborate with my peers in the school setting to help me improve my service delivery to students and other clients.

Moreover, I intend to take advantage of available conferences, seminars, and workshops to help me garner the required skills and experience in social work. Another career goal is to establish and build a professional network of social workers to help me advance in my career. I will also volunteer expensively in humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross to obtain practical skills on social work. I also intend to identify mentors and carry out professional interviews with them to help me understand all the necessary expertise for success in this field. Additionally, I intend to further my education in social work to enable me to have the requisite knowledge needed to offer efficient services to students and school workers. Specifically, I intend to enrol and pursue a PhD program in social work and become a lecturer in social work. By so doing, I will be able to nurture several students to become outstanding social workers.

I have had several life challenges that have shaped my character and belief. The most memorable instance came after the abrupt death of my father. Notably, my father was the family's sole breadwinner. His death dealt a big blow as we started experiencing a financial crisis. My mother was unable to provide for us for she was unemployed. Typically, we were even chased from our rental house due to failure to pay rent. In school and the neighborhood, my family became subject to public ridicule. I was so depressed that I developed suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, and delusions. It is essential to note that the depression took a toll on me and affected my mental and physical state. I dropped out of school due for I lacked fees for my education. At one point, I had suicidal thought and even planned to jump off a tall building.

Rather than letting my father's death and subsequent problems associated with his demise define my future; I decided to take an important decision. Quintessentially, I sought the services of a psychologist who helped me to alleviate depressive conditions that I experienced. The psychologist also helped my family to cope with the death of my father. The psychologist gave me medicine that helped me to alleviate physical symptoms associated with depression such as decreased pain tolerance, fatigue, and headaches among others. The treatment also entailed therapeutic approach in which the psychologist educated me on the physical activities that promote healthy living and wellness. After a few months, depressive symptoms had gone, and I even rejoined school to continue with my studies.

I possess various strengths that are vital in helping me become successful in social work. For instance, I am empathetic as I normally feel for other people in emotional and physical distress. I am also resilient in handling people's grievances, which helps me to avoid frustrations. Furthermore, I am a dependable which helps me to earn trust with people that I associate with in life. Also, I am organized in my endeavors, a quality that has been a cornerstone in helping me to manage time and maintain proper and accurate records. I have excellent interpersonal as well as communication skills which facilitate the best care to clients. All these qualities are important in social work since they not only help to establish a successful working relationship with clients but also aid in efficient service delivery. Nevertheless, despite these strengths, I have flaws which deter me from being effective as a social worker. I am impatient in performing tasks that require too much time. Therefore, I will need to improve this weakness to enable me to prosper as a social worker.

Conclusion

I am aware that your school offers the best program in social work. Additionally, I have held consultative meetings with some of the school's alumni who have increased my desire to pursue a social work course in your reputable institution. I am also aware that the school has competent lecturers who are committed to nurturing many students to become outstanding social workers. I believe that if given a chance in your school, I will be able to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a professional in social work and help the less fortunate members of my society. Therefore, I will help in maintaining the legacy of this outstanding graduate school of social work.