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My interest in Criminal Justice at the age of 7. I had started seeing a counselor after my mothers

death. She was always motivating me to find ways to communicate with her and express my

feelings. I took her patience and inspiration to approach my life in a positive manner as I got

older. She opened my mind to social work when I was approaching that age to understand more

about what she was actually helping me with mentally, physically and emotionally . As I got

older I decided to attend college. I took sociology and psychology classes and found I enjoy

learning about social life in the changes in human life as well as the human mind. Once I got into

middle school I met my bus driver who was an important role model. Who inspires me to help

others if I was ever given the opportunity; to this day I deeply admire my bus driver, a strong

woman who also had a heart of gold. Soon, I came to realize that my own compassion was my

solidity, and it was later on I realized social work is the right field for me.

My passion for helping others also results from the years that I have spent employed in customer

service environments. I also would help my bus driver clean the church on weekends. To set my

sights on working with people when I became aware that, as I helped others, I began to find

myself maturing into a responsible young lady. My work with my bus driver back in 2013 was

another inspirational experience, she was helping me to better understand life stages and

challenges faced during this critical period. At this time, I also began working on myself more. I

began to remember critical points in my own childhood and , healing old wounds, becoming

increasingly sensitive to and optimistic about the power of social work to save lives by helping to

steer individuals away from negative pathways, and point them in a healthy, productive

direction.

After graduation I took a job working at a firm to gain experience. Which I knew it was for a

short period of time. I later realized I want to be a part of something that will keep me grounded

in the social work field is just the right pathway for me. Working at the firm my professional

self-confidence grew as I assumed a leadership role. I was a part of running conflicts, Input data

and update websites. Answer phone calls from prospective purchasers and or borrowers or

lenders existing files Setup, new referrals in case management software. Assist in maintaining a

calendar of hearings and sales planning and running conferences and organizing. I have

developed my critical thinking skills. Here I am applying to MSW program looking forward to

opening new doors for myself..

Just like many other social workers, I believe that I was drawn to the field as a result of having

overcome so many of my own personal challenges. My mother was killed in a house fire; I was

the third youngest, when I was born I was premature. I was only 3 pounds. I stayed in the

hospital for a few months. My father was not around much. As I understand it, things were often

very tough. My grandparents took me and my brother and my other two brothers went with their

grandparents. We had to split up. They did the best with the limited resources that he had to take

care of the four of us at the time of an unexpected tragedy. a 5 year, a 7 year old, and an 8 and 10

year old. Ultimately they made many critical mistakes throughout our childhood. We were all

dealing with behavior issues. My younger brother ended up in the system for a short period of

time. Growing up, I developed many healthy relationships with counselors and I have great

memories of them.

I learned effective communication skills growing up through participation in sports. My

freshman year of highschool I joined the cross country team. I got my first job in my sophomore

year. Linda Faye welcomed me into her family and did what she could for me. She took me to

practice and work when needed. In the middle of my sophomore season I found out she was

battling cancer and soon later she was no longer with us. That was a devastating moment for me

but she is another reason that I am entering the Social Work field. My bus driver sacrificed so

much for me to not become a statistic. All while fighting her own fight she was a true hero in

my life. I continued my running career all through high school and I received a scholarship to

University where I obtained my bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice minor Sociology.

My first year of college was overall good. I was adapting to a new environment; Going into my

sophomore year I was hit with an unbelievable text to inform me that my big brother was

unresponsive and had died in his sleep. I was so upset and devastated. Not only did my brother

was lifeless but I just helped him move not even ten minutes away from where I was living.

While I was home from school.. In shock, I was determined to take a break from school and

sports to recover. I went back the following semester but found it to be much more of a struggle

as a result of my trauma . I had been wounded as never before; yet I threw myself back in full

speed into my studies and sports. I adored myself for being able to keep pushing even when I

knew it was hurting me the most. I had a part time job as well going into my sophomore year of

college and maintaining work study and community service hours. There has always been

something about helping others that warms my heart.

I had already lived through so much so now I am motivated by my adversity. I want to go into

criminal Justice social work because it is where my greatest interest lie, since I have went to

school to obtain my bachelors I want to work with the Juvenile population because, in my

experience, this younger generation is in for a wake up call and I don’t think it is ever too late for

an individual to have a healthy, more productive life. I am a strong, dedicated, compassionate

professional and a born leader. Yet, I am trainable and thrive on teamwork. I love my life and my

field. I am well balanced and have a great support system. The current social issue in which I am

most interested is the intersection between mental illness and substance abuse, how they overlap,

and how they are compounded by a lack of resources, especially a lack of follow up care.