Personal Essay: A Career In Social Work

I have always known that I wanted my life work to be helping others. Although I did not know what I wanted to do specifically, my goal was to find a career that can better lives of those less fortunate than I am, while also making a good living financially. Through schoolwork and volunteer experience I ultimately chose a path in social work, with an end goal of working with families who have been effected by addiction. I would like to work hands on with those who have the addiction, but would also love to help their family members cope with decisions made by their loved one.
As an undergraduate, at Western Michigan University, my studies were in psychology. Having previously worked with both children in schools and elders in nursing homes, I wanted to expand my resume when I chose my field work. I was able to complete my hours at Gryphon Place in Kalamazoo. This is a conflict and crisis center where I specialized in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. This experience gave me a feeling of accomplishment and pride in knowing that I was not only helping others but also saving lives. After working at Gryphon Place my career outlook changed drastically. Originally I just wanted to work with kids and I

In truth, I originally wanted to apply to Aurora University because of the location and its convenience. After I researched the program and attended an open house I knew this decision was a good one. The three year part time program stood out to me because it fits in well with my current schedule. When I came to campus the atmosphere immediately felt welcoming and the faculty acted as if they truly cared about my future. Unlike other universities, the faculty gave life advice as opposed to advice just to recruit students to their program. I can see myself in the Masters of Social Work program at Aurora University and being happy while pursuing my