I am a woman of Hispanic heritage, born in the Dominican Republic and have been resident in the United States since the age of ten. I speak English and Spanish. I hold a BS degree in Industrial Engineering Technology and a BA degree in Modern Languages (Spanish) with a minor in Business Management. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college and am proud to have done so and to have taken advantage of the opportunities that have been available to me.
I am a practicing Catholic and positively seeking a Catholic educational environment. I would endeavor to further the Church’s teachings in relation to social and economic justice as a trained social worker. I also believe that my ethnic and economic background and life experiences to date provide an excellent ‘fit’ with the specific aims expressed in the School’s Mission Statement which I share and would enthusiastically seek to advance.
I have never formally studied Social Work and it may be unusual for someone with my academic and professional background to apply for this program. My interest in Social Work was initially fired by my experiences in the Army. During my service, which included time in Kosovo, I witnessed distress among soldiers arising from post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. Two military colleagues required help whilst we served in Kosovo, both suffered bereavements of close relatives whilst far from home and suffered depression and stress as a result. I witnessed successful interventions in these cases to provide these soldiers with ways of coping and regaining their former confidence and joy in living. It was then that I became aware of the value of the work of professional social workers, and it occurred to me then that this was a wonderful way to spend a working life. The seed was planted.
When I left the army, I decided that I would help others, if not professionally, then as a volunteer. I resumed my career but have spent a significant amount of my spare time in volunteer activities. I have worked in a Women’s Shelter, helping in practical ways, with listening and in doing anything that was useful for the clients. I have worked in a homeless shelter providing general help to residents. Currently I act as a volunteer with an organization that represents the interests of abused and neglected children in court. I have been trained by a non-profit organization called CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to act as an advocate for children in the courts. The children concerned have suffered abuse or neglect and the courts seek to have them safely and permanently homed. I act as a friend to the child and as a factfinder reporting directly to the judge. I am required to thoroughly research the child’s background, to speak for the child in court and to assist the court and child towards a swift and appropriate conclusion.
My voluntary work has been another, and incredibly significant, formative experience in my life and has provided me with great satisfaction, indeed joy. A successful outcome is life-changing for an underprivileged and deserving child. The other successes in my life have been dwarfed by those obtained in doing this work that positively changes the lives of others. The children have acted as examples of resilience, patience, and humor in the face of always difficult, and sometimes extremely distressing, situations that have been inspirational to me. I have interacted with family Social Workers during this voluntary activity and have acquired an understanding of their role and an admiration for their work. It has also demonstrated to me how different providers and organizations interact efficiently to reach early and desirable conclusions.
My volunteer activity re-fired my interest in becoming a professional Social Worker. Indeed, I have become passionately committed to doing so. I have thought about this application very carefully. I am aware that it is possible for an ‘outsider’ to sentimentalize caring professions and to imagine that instant solutions exist to serious situations. I know that situations calling for professional intervention are often extraordinarily complex and that the complexities may not be immediately apparent, that careful and sensitive investigation is required to define a problem and identify practical solutions. I believe that my military service, voluntary work and even my recent management experience has given me opportunities to appreciate some of the realities of Social Work. I know that along with a mature, genuinely caring, and positive attitude it is also necessary to be realistic in terms of people and outcomes. I possess these characteristics and can be a highly effective Social Worker. Not least, I have a sense of humor and know the value of a smile.
My management experience is also, I believe, relevant to this application. I have five years of management experience and related training. It seems to me that a good manager has some of the characteristics necessary to succeed in Social Work. Successful management calls for maturity, a realistic attitude about people, good planning skills, flexibility and an interested and caring attitude to staff and their personal welfare and progress. Being a manager also requires good observational skills and the consequent ability to recognize a potential problem at an early stage and to intervene decisively to prevent it becoming more serious. I can bring these skills and training to the program and would regard them as highly relevant to it.
As a trained scientist, I am used to compiling and interpreting statistical information, I also understand the importance of maintaining detailed and accurate records. I believe that the combination of the discipline I learned in my scientific studies combined with a natural compassion for others provides a further reason for anticipating successful participation in the program.
My military experience is also highly relevant to my application. Military life teaches, indeed demands, successful teamwork. I was regarded as a good ‘team player’ with a readiness to share and to assist. In addition to my experience of being initially raised in another cultural environment and subsequently adjusting to a new one, I have worked with people of many diverse backgrounds and cultures in the Army and in subsequent employment. I have also travelled widely in Europe and in the Caribbean. I have no difficulty in relating well to others whatever their heritage or background. My own background was financially modest, and this provides me with insights which would be useful for a Social Worker. I would hope to be an example to others who share my background of what can be achieved, in the course of my future work. The program’s emphasis on the needs of Hispanic children and families fits well with my own background, volunteer activities and life experiences.
As I understand Social Work, it is ‘all about people’ and involves forming positive relationships with people as an advisor, advocate, counselor, or listener with the end of helping them to live their lives more successfully and by helping them to find practical and successful solutions to their problems. I also understand, especially from my current volunteer work, that non-verbal communication is especially important, especially in understanding the emotions and problems faced by children. I am also aware that reaching successful conclusions may involve interaction with families, friends and other relevant organizations and parties.
I have carefully considered the characteristics required of an excellent social worker and I am confident that I possess them. I am compassionate, committed, caring, realistic, academically able, disciplined, enthusiastic, and a good ‘team player’.
My voluntary activities, military background and management training and experience enable me to offer truly relevant skills and knowledge to the master's program and I look forward to sharing these with my class. Most importantly, I will bring a genuine and fervent desire to help others by obtaining the necessary training and knowledge to do so. I know that I can benefit from the program and share those benefits with others in my future career as a Social Worker.
Social Work MSW Personal Statement of Purpose Samples