I am a Filipino-Caucasian woman born in North Carolina and raised in New Mexico. I hold a bachelor's degree in criminology and anticipate graduation from the MA program in Human Services with a specialization in Marriage and Family in March 2011.
My father was a servicemember who fought in Vietnam. He came home suffering from ‘flashbacks’, anger, and a heavy drinking problem. He never sought any kind of counseling or other treatment which was not, at that time, routinely available anyway. Eventually our family life disintegrated. My purpose in applying to join this program is to learn how to help prevent this from happening to other military families like ours through trained interventions.
I am an active-duty military spouse and have personal experience with the special challenges faced by those who serve and their families. I chose Criminology as my undergraduate major because of a curiosity concerning what drives people to crime and a disregard for others. These studies were relevant to the volunteer work I was undertaking in a domestic shelter and later voluntary work with victims of violence and sexual assault in the military community, acting as an advocate for victims with whom I spent a substantial amount of time.
I decided then that I wanted to be involved in early intervention to prevent these problems arising rather than reacting only after the event. To be involved in prevention rather than post-event cures, I took on the role of a Prevention and Education Specialist as part of the Counseling Service Team aboard the Marine Corps Base Camp at XXXX. This role enabled me to work towards prevention of domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide. I was also trained in combat operational stress awareness. I saw, in some cases, a close resemblance in symptoms demonstrated by soldiers returning from active duty to those of my own father.
I have run several marathons during my life. This activity requires many hours of training and dedication to be successful. My life has been something like undertaking a series of marathons. Sometimes I have not prepared sufficiently, believing that things were more easily achieved than was the case. This was true of my studies for my bachelor's degree. Frankly my results were not ‘stellar’ however, following that experience, I decided that I must regard my studies for my master's degree as one more marathon and one that would be prepared for and undertaken with focus, dedication and diligence to get to my goal. My GPA now stands at 3.8, I have worked very hard to overcome an earlier lack of focus and dedication.
I will give my studies in the program ‘everything I have’ as my objectives are wholeheartedly and passionately desired. I would particularly draw attention to the subject of the master's degree that I am now about to complete as I regard this as highly relevant to the MSW program.
My objectives are to use the training provided by the master's program to work with those scarred by their experiences of war and their families to minimize the effect of the stresses and mental ‘wounds’ affecting soldiers and veterans. In short, to stop the war continuing in minds and in homes. I am sure that the program will go far in equipping me to do so. I am especially interested in undertaking research in combat operational stress and the impact of deployments on military families and into domestic violence among the military.
I am convinced that I possess the personal qualities necessary to become an extremely effective social worker. I am genuinely sympathetic to those in distress without being unrealistic or sentimental. I am considered to have excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills. I am a good organizer and motivator. I am a confident public speaker and enjoy debating. I enjoy working within a team and like to share information and views with others. Not least, I know the value of a smile and I have a sense of humor. I have a mixed ethnicity and spend leisure and working time with people from many different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities.
I relate well to others regardless of culture and positively enjoy the interesting contrasts that cultural diversity brings. I know that the demonstration of cultural awareness and sensitivity will be essential to my success in the program and as a social worker. I am aware of the core values of social work and fully support and share them. I would always uphold those values during my training and ultimately in my work.
The excellent reputation of the School of Social Work Master’s program is well known and those reading this statement will face some difficult decisions. However, I feel sure that my personal qualities, highly relevant voluntary and professional experience, my academic choices to date, and especially my genuine longing to serve and help bring about positive changes in lives, provide an excellent basis for highly successful participation in the MSW program. I am sure that I can bring useful insights to the benefit of the academic community and become an asset to the School.
MSW Statement of Purpose Examples Domestic Violence Veteran
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