My Journey Towards a Career in Social Work: Focusing on Gerontology and Latino Issues

Career Interests and Objectives in Social Work

I want to learn, live, write, and publish in the field of gerontology and public policy from a social work perspective. My specific research focus is on Latino populations in the USA. Ten years from now, I hope to run my own practice as a social work professional. I am also very interested in international social work, particularly in South America and Asia.

Wholeheartedly dedicated to lifelong education, I believe that life begins at 50. Now, at 49, I am seeking a new path and professional direction. Currently, I am a nurse and a health coach living in North Carolina. I am grateful for my wonderful family and career, but I want more. I want to grow as a person and tie the loose ends in my life together. My goal is to maximize my personal and professional contributions to both family and community as a professional social worker specializing in gerontology and focusing on Hispanic populations.

My Hispanic focus is one of several reasons why I want to live, study, and work in South Florida. As a registered nurse, I have long admired hospital social workers for their ability to help patients access resources and services. They assist people in achieving meaningful, forward movement in their lives.

I want to be a social worker because I have observed the compassion social workers show to those they care for. They collaborate with patients and their families to facilitate resolution and healing. Early in my role as a registered nurse, I sometimes questioned whether my highly technical, crisis-oriented interventions were making a lasting difference for my patients and their families. However, with the benefit of hindsight, I now see how I have helped build lasting relationships for many of my clients. I have empowered people to improve their lives, and I want to devote everything I have to continuing this work for decades to come. I aim to develop in-depth connections that foster positive, proactive change in the community, improving people's lives.

It was the use of evidence-based practices that led me to become a Certified Health Coach at XXXX University. This process helped me discover my passion for professional counseling, enabling people to maximize their human potential.

Areas of Focus in Social Work

Over the coming years, I plan to develop my skills in various social work contexts. I will focus my energies on motivational interviewing, cognitive therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to help individuals make positive growth. I want to enhance their lives on multiple fronts simultaneously. My interests extend beyond mental illness to include hunger, poverty, and the needs of military families.

I am intrigued by the paradoxes and disparities present on a global level. A large part of the world suffers from food insecurity, while another segment faces obesity. I enjoy wrestling with the complexities of poverty reduction and ensuring access to safe, nutritious food. These are societal problems that require significant policy overhauls. At the same time, I want to stay engaged at the local level, helping my community address issues of food security and healthy diets.

For decades, I have organized projects and events advocating for change for marginalized groups. I am especially fond of community gardens that are cost-effective and produce highly nutritious food. I also support special initiatives for military families.

Current Social Problems of Greatest Concern

There are two areas where I have personal experience with socially and economically disadvantaged populations. As a young mother on public assistance in XXXX, New York, I experienced the humiliation and insecurity of poverty, including food insecurity and substandard living conditions. Now, as part of a military family living in a large military community, my experiences help me contribute valuable insights into the issues facing low-income and military families.

Through my internship with a mental health agency, I gained extensive knowledge and practiced skills working with individuals suffering from chronic mental illness. This intensive, supervised experience equipped me with skills in empathic interviewing, active listening, conducting classes and groups in psychosocial rehabilitation, person-centered and solution-focused planning, and program evaluation. I have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the daily struggles and stigmatization that those with chronic mental illness experience.

I particularly look forward to exploring the additional stressors of homelessness and poverty, especially for those living in isolated rural communities. These factors significantly impact mental health challenges. When I become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I plan to facilitate optimal health and improve the quality of life for those suffering from mental illness.

My mother’s parents are from Colombia and Peru. She is now 80 years old and lives near Boca Raton and XXXX University. Her presence is another reason why I hope to begin your MSW Program next fall at XXU. My mother and I have mostly spoken English, but she finds it both strange and funny that I am now speaking to her more in Spanish. I want to learn from her while I still can, especially about the needs of geriatric Latinas, how they think, and how they express themselves in Spanish.

Special Knowledge and Experience

My inspiration for earning the MSW and launching my social work career also comes from my recent volunteer experience. I initiated, developed, and helped execute our "XXXX Project," a grassroots effort to fight food insecurity in our community. We raised $4,000 to benefit our soup kitchen.

Your MSW courses are offered on the XXXX campus, which is especially convenient for me. I appreciate how students come from diverse backgrounds, representing various undergraduate majors and universities. Most of the student body possesses a wealth of life experiences, an appreciation of diversity, and a commitment to social and economic justice.

Experience and Leadership

Different periods in my life have provided me with rich insights. Living for several years in a depressed, crime-ridden, and drug-infested neighborhood in New York has given me perspective on the nature of homes where vulnerable members are at risk. Currently, I live in a large military community, which offers me a unique perspective on the daily issues young families face.

I continue to attend classes in motivational interviewing, cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies, as well as wellness management and recovery. Most recently, I have facilitated psychosocial rehabilitation groups using these skills, incorporating creative art projects. I have become better at recognizing ambiguity and exploring the complexity of ethical concerns, applying strategies of ethical reasoning through interaction with clients.

Working with clients facing profoundly difficult mental health challenges has helped me grow as a human being and an effective professional. I am now convinced that I want to devote the rest of my professional life to providing leadership for individuals and groups in counseling. As a registered nurse, I assumed a leadership role as the “charge nurse.” This role requires clinical competency, excellent communication skills, and the ability to make important decisions. I was an effective charge nurse, helping to create a positive working environment through delegation, education, and conflict resolution. I also acted as a liaison between doctors, patients, families, and other staff. This experience taught me to be decisive, resourceful, and a change agent who always strives to account for the big picture.

In addition to being a nurse, I have run my own business for the past 15 years, offering professional services that promote optimal health and healing. These services include therapeutic massage, yoga instruction, and integrative health coaching. As a certified health coach, I utilize a holistic, strengths-based approach. In partnership with the client, I facilitate positive behavioral and lifestyle changes that aim to promote optimal health. My goal is to empower clients to explore options that align with their personal vision and values.

Additional Information

I am as well-traveled as I am well-read. I have just completed a lengthy tour of most South American countries, exploring my heritage and celebrating it on many levels. It is here that I hope to make my greatest contribution to the celebration of diversity in your program. I have also developed a sustained interest in holistic medicine and alternative therapies, including art, play, movement, yoga, yoga nidra, meditation, and mindfulness.

XXU has an excellent academic reputation, and I am attracted to it because of the presence of large geriatric and Hispanic communities. I look forward to working with both.

MSW Gerontology and Public Policy Latino Issues