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Claudia Rangel

Virtual Academic Center Scholarship Essay

Virtual Academic Scholarship Applicants Only: Please describe your academic and professional goals in the field of social work. As the War continues, social workers in all branches of the military are helping families and military personnel prepare for, and cope with, the ravages of war. They do so through a range of preventive and clinical services and programs, including family-support programs and mental-health counseling. When soldiers return home, social workers in the Department of Veterans Affairs are prepared to help them — and their families — reconnect with society and with each other, and to get psychological help if needed. I come from a military family were my husband has been deployed 7 times and every time it gets worst so for this reason I have chosen this field so I can help our veterans and their family connect and help with as much as I can. Also hopfully in the area of HIV infected soldiers since I am doing that at my present work and I love my job. What specific population(s) interest(s) you? Military, veterans, HIV population. VA hospitals and in military installations across the country. How do you desire to serve the population(s) professionally? Soldiers coming home from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars share the age-old grievances of all warriors throughout history, such as grief, bodily injury, combat stress, fatigue, and emotional anguish. Added to these assaults, many are ambushed by the aftereffects of combat experience characterized by multiple and extended deployments, conditions such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury, as well as injuries from a new kind of weaponry called improvised explosive devices.

As a VA social workers I am committed to help our military family in undertaking activities that will ensure our troops are ready once they return return home from war or struggling with daily job duties, and helping families. One key role social workers play is connecting military families with vital community resources like childcare, transportation, and finances, some counseling and referrals are just some of the duties I would like to do for our military families. Please discuss very candidly how this scholarship will assist you in achieving your academic goals. What, if any, special circumstances necessitate this scholarship during your academic endeavors (i.e. family situation, financial hardship, etc.)? I have been married for 7 years with my husband who will retire next year after doing his 20 years in the service. So by him being away in another state puts a hardship in our household income because he has to pay rent in El Paso Texas and still make our mortgage and take care of home in California. I work part time as a case manager with HIV patients and also take care of our 5 year old son who has autism and needs me every minute of the day. We are also foster parents to 2 girls ages 14 and 17 and I would not change that for anything. I love helping out these children and giving them a home to call their own. For all those reasons It is hard for me to hold a full time job that’s why I am doing online classes because I can’t pay for daycare while I attend school. I would like to get any type of assistance I can get because financially it is hard we struggle at times and I have student loans from my previous education already and I would like to be given the opportunity to get any financial help that will free the stress from myself and my family. Please answer this question with no more than 1-2 pages attached as a supporting document to your application. This essay is separate from your five-page statement.

This material is considered confidential and will be used for the purposes of rendering an admission decision and directing your educational experience.