Competencies achieved during BSW education:

1. Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly

2. Apply social work principles to guide professional practice
3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments
4. Engage diversity and difference in practice
5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice
6. Engage in research informed practice and practice informed research
7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
8. Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver
effective social work services
9. Respond to contexts that shape practice
10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, groups, organizations, and
communities
11. Analyze the impact of the urban context on a range of client systems, including
practice implications
I have great passion to assist consumers in their journey to achieve goals,
independence and a richer self-esteem. Not only do I want to be a trustworthy, educated
social worker, but I want to be a mentor as well; earning a higher degree would provide
greater opportunity and experience while furthering my competency in the field. The
ability as a social worker to work with limitless populations greatly interests me, and my
personal values of being a goal and solution driven individual provides for excellent
commitment towards my career and education studies.
As a prospective fully licensed Master Social Worker, I plan to facilitate with
therapies for individual and small groups. I have an interest in working with adolescents
and young adults, mostly in small group work. Currently, I am interning with individuals
diagnosed with Autism, however, I would love the opportunity to work with mental
health, corrections and addiction agencies. When first beginning my career as a LMSW, I
would enjoy the option of exploring different career focuses. Further into my career, I can
see myself taking pride in opening my own agency or avocation center for a specific
population of interest. While I have great interest in individual and group therapies as
well as case management, a course in my undergraduate studies (SW 4710, Policy) has
changed my opinion of research and policies in social welfare programs. I enjoyed
analyzing program Acts and bills, as well as trying to research through a plethora of
information to advocate in the chosen field of practice.
As an undergraduate student at Wayne State, I studied Social Work and
psychology. During my schooling and internship, I have had the opportunity to learn
basic social work skills and duties. My understanding and implementation of the NASW
code of ethics has been a major guide in helping me to become a competent, professional
and compassionate social worker. Though I learned much from coursework, I am
thankful for the experience in field placement; Shadowing and leading individual and
group therapy has taught me how to actively listen and provide feedback with social work
theory in sessions. My self-confidence and esteem has also been positively affected

through work in my internship as well. My excitement to learn drives my passion in

furthering my education in social work. Earning my Bachelor of Social Work and
continuing for a Master level degree provides extra insight into the field that some
students may never have the opportunity of having.
One of the most important events in my life that has played a great role in my
desire to become a social worker was volunteering to be a mentor for special needs
children. I worked with children that had cognitive impairments such as Down syndrome,
Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Schizophrenia and learning disabilities. This group of children
touched my heart in such a way that I knew I had to peruse a career working with them
forever. I have seen first hand how these children face social inequalities because of their
impairments and I want to be a driving force in their roads to success. My choice of
perusing a degree in social work truly comes from my heart and my passion to help and
be a positive influence to others. I believe that my enthusiasm and devotion to help will
play a great role in how I perform my duties as a social worker.
I have the desire to help, lead, change and make a difference in the lives of others. I
have an open mind to change, which will help me to be the change in the lives of others. I
am enthused to earn a degree in a field that provides diverse studies and cases. The
diverse backgrounds and life stories I will encounter as a social worker truly encourage
me to succeed with this degree. Social Welfare programs are can be poorly written and
administered, leaving many individuals behind to struggle. I find interest in analyzing and
implementing new policies to help bring positive change to our society. Though I am a
very driven individual, I welcome new ideas and corrective criticism to enhance my work
in the field.
The idea of providing and receiving feedback in the field whether it be from a supervisor,
co-worker or client can even be a source of self-awareness, debrief and collaboration.
Working on difficult cases in the field, will strengthen my ability to be a competent social
worker, and will allow me to gain experience. Having a client challenge me would push
me to work harder, advocate louder and hold stronger feelings of empathy for the
individual.
I am fully aware that a social worker has tough demands and not everyday can be
full of warmth due to the tough circumstances that a case may hold. However, with that
being said, I am ready for a challenge. Every day is a learning experience in this field,
and personal growth as a social worker will always be achieved.
As a social worker, having the opportunity work with a disadvantaged child
providing them with a tutor to help them graduate, or working in urban environments, to
promote equality, jobs, education and bringing the community together is a major
influence in the field. The diverse backgrounds and life stories I will encounter as a social
worker truly encourage me to succeed with this degree. There are too many children in
this world that are uneducated due to poor school systems and tough home lives and I
want to change that; as a school social worker I will hold the opportunity to be able to.

I have completed my undergraduate studies at Wayne State through grants and

loans, and will have to do the same in my Master level. Each year, I fill out the FAFSA,
and fortunately receive enough aid to cover tuition costs. I have completed Wayne State
scholarship applications and hope to be accepted for additional help. My passion for
learning and furthering my education will not be stopped due to insufficient funds. I am
proud of myself for making it this far, but I look at earning my BSW as a checkpoint,
until I reach the finish line of a MSW, my dream is not complete. I cannot wait for the
day to walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive the Master degree I worked so
hard for.
I have extremely high expectations for myself in this field, and I strive for
success. My passion to help will lead me to success and to have a never-ending learning
experience. Physically and mentally, I believe I am prepared for the Graduate work
Wayne State will provide me with. The challenge and excellent learning experience will
allow me to grow and test myself of not only how strong my desire to earn a degree is,
but teach me how to handle stress and become the influential, determined Social Worker I
know I can be. When accepted into Wayne State school of Master Social Work, I promise
to bring my passion and enthusiasm to learn, and be a positive role model in the lives of
others.