Social Work Personal Statement

I am interested in obtaining my masters degree in the field of social work because I am passionate about issues of equality and fairness, and want to be in a position to help out in this area in a constructive and meaningful way. Social workers have the ability to make direct, beneficial changes in people’s lives, often the people who need it the most. It may rarely be world-changing on a macro level, but social work, when done right, can have world changing effects, for the better, on the people it touches.
I am interested in pursuing my master’s education in clinical practice social work. I am most interested in working directly with people, be they individuals, families, or wider groups, because this was the setting in which I was originally

introduced to the concept of social work. At a young age, my family and I were involved in bereavement counseling, both one-on-one and in group therapy, and, since then, I have always been eager to be able to offer people the same help and support I received.
There have been several volunteer opportunities in the field of social work that I have taken advantage of.

I was first introduced in high school, when I worked with children as a student volunteer at a pre-school as part of a requirement for a child psychology course. I spent nine months assigned to a four-year-old child, and was responsible for writing lesson plans with classmates designed around intellectual challenges. Coming from a small family, this was my first experience with children significantly younger than me, and I feel it gave me experience in understanding their needs and relating to their emotional and social level in a way that made it possible to interact

constructively.
In 2014, as a Hunter student, I volunteered at the SCAN Johnson Community Center Cornerstone in East Harlem. I worked with children at risk of poverty aged between five and seven years old from September to December. I was responsible for helping children with their homework as well as providing support for them as they took part in creative arts and crafts projects. As well as working directly with the children, I assisted SCAN staff members in constructing lesson plans and managing behavior.
I greatly enjoyed my time with SCAN, especially learning about the children’s lives and backgrounds, and my time at the center inspired me to look for more opportunities to work with young children.

Not only did I find interacting with them enjoyable and personally fulfilling, but I feel it helped me to understand the behavioral and emotional mechanisms not only of people much younger than me, but also of people from significantly different backgrounds and upbringings than my own, environmentally, economically and ethnically. As a social worker, I feel that it is important to be neutral. The world is a very diverse place and it is crucial to be open-minded while communicating with others. I believe my time working with children has improved my ability to adapt appropriately to various age levels, resolve conflicts and remain patient in emotionally heightened situations. I have found being involved in social work to be an extremely rewarding experience and look forward to continue my growth in the field.
Most recently, I am anticipating starting an internship with the National Eating Disorder Association as a crisis helpline volunteer. This will give me the opportunity to work with new age groups that I have not previously had a chance to get experience working

with.
The scope of opportunities for social workers is diverse and versatile. Social worker’s provide balance and assistance to those in our society. A current social issue where social workers can play an important role is the status of Muslims in French society. This was most recently bought to the world’s attention by the attack on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, for publishing images of the prophet Muhammad. These attacks have been followed, in turn, by a rise in Islamophobia throughout France. This issue could benefit from the help of social workers in areas of improving integration and multiculturalism and combating segregation and racism.
Social workers can help in this area in several ways. Cultural education in different communities can help promote understanding between ethnicities and decrease paranoia and propaganda. By dealing with larger issues such as poverty in minority communities and racism in employment, impoverished minorities can be brought into mainstream society to feel part of their national culture. Social workers can help in this matter by reducing the division between the immigrants and French citizens. They can work to improve communication so that these two groups can come together in a informed, constructive manner.
I have chosen Silberman because I would like to remain within the Hunter College community. My time as an undergraduate student at Hunter College has given me the personal confidence and motivation to further my education through out-of-class discussions, internships, and volunteer opportunities, and these are all things I would be looking to continue at Silberman.
During my undergraduate studies in sociology, I learned about Max Weber, specifically his theory on making your career into your vocation. I truly believe this is the case with social work and myself; I want to make helping others my life. I believe I have the capabilities to gain the skills and knowledge on how to empower individuals who seek help and provide them with support.