MSW Personal Statement Military Family

Bound for Success in an MSW Program, Helping the Military Family

At 39, I'm eager to advance to the next stage of my career. My personal and career aspirations haven't always been prioritized in our military family. My husband, with whom I've shared nearly 16 wonderful years, has dedicated 27 years to serving his country. He fully supports my decision to attend graduate school, often saying with a smile, “Now it’s your turn.”

As a diligent professional and committed student, I earned a BA in Psychology, which has greatly benefited my career. With over 12 years of experience in healthcare, the knowledge I've gained has been invaluable, particularly in my role as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician (PT). My understanding of various departments and operational procedures has been an asset in my career and will continue to support my success in the MSW program and as a social worker. As a military spouse, I lived in Japan for 2.5 years and grew to love the country, missing it daily. My spouse has been stationed overseas twice in the past eight years, and during his last tour, he was away from me and our pets for three years, allowing us to see each other only twice a year. He will return home in April 2015. We've made significant sacrifices due to his military service, and I've worked part-time over the past three years while pursuing my bachelor's degree. We've overcome numerous challenges and developed new strategies to ensure the success of our lives, marriage, and family. This is why I feel drawn to work as a social worker, assisting other military families in navigating their unique challenges.

I met my husband 20 years ago, and being married to a sailor has profoundly influenced my life both professionally and personally. I've been inspired by my travels abroad, visiting places like Sydney, Australia, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca in Malaysia, and connecting with diverse cultures. I embrace diversity through travel, new experiences, and meeting people from around the world that I hope to visit someday.

Since January 2011, I've been employed at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in ____, California. I've had numerous growth opportunities as a Psychiatric Technician and, for the past three years, have served as the Medication Court Administrator (MCA), acting as a patient liaison and advocate for inmates requiring involuntary psychotropic medications. Working in the Mental Health Crisis Beds (MHCB), I've become acutely aware of the significant challenges facing our prison systems due to economic constraints, justice principles, and persistent substance abuse issues. My experience in the MHCB has provided me with a deeper understanding of patients with severe mental illnesses and substance abuse addictions. After completing the program at U__, I look forward to working with clients in my local community who often face complex challenges, frequently related to substance abuse within the family.

At ____, I provide nursing and mental health care, requiring extensive knowledge in both fields. Developing educational and therapeutic groups approved by interdisciplinary treatment teams helps ensure patient success and well-being. We strive to empower patients to take an active role in their mental health care and utilize resources for successful reintegration as productive society members, reducing recidivism rates. I aim to focus on keeping marriages and families together and helping veterans avoid incarceration and homelessness. This is why the social work program at the University of ____ is my top choice, as it offers a concentration on Families and Children and a Military sub-concentration dedicated to understanding and supporting military service members and their families.

I aspire to be an inspiration, a beacon of hope, and empower other military spouses to actively shape their futures, building on our past as a testament to our strength.

Working with children, especially those in abusive environments, has always been my primary passion because I was once that child. These experiences drive my motivation to protect at-risk children in our community, particularly in the military community. I'm deeply engaged in studying how child abuse transcends socio-economic and ethnic boundaries, with children often suffering silently. I rarely share my own abuse stories, but when I do, friends and colleagues are usually surprised and commend my strength. My courage and determination to overcome childhood adversity led me to seek positive connections and interactions, many of which remain from my youth.

Overcoming the negative energy and experiences of my childhood has shaped the person I am today, ready to enter your MSW program. My therapeutic journey has been positive, rewarding, and empowering, both personally and professionally. The resources I found through therapy have been crucial in managing all aspects of my life. As a military spouse and former military child dependent, I relate to the challenges military families face. It's vital to break the stigmas and barriers within the military community regarding mental health and its impact on overall well-being and available services.

My goal is to work with veterans and families at the VA and military hospitals, inspired by my family’s military history, including my grandfather, two uncles, step-father, and spouse. I am confident that my extensive experience in state hospitals and prisons will help me excel in your program at U__ as I explore new areas and address new issues, particularly in improving social services. I want to encourage spouses and children to find their voice, achieve self-worth and family-worth, and accomplish their goals while maintaining family stability.

Documentation is a significant barrier preventing many active-duty service members, spouses, and families from seeking mental health services. There's a concern that mental health interactions could negatively affect a service member’s career. I've experienced this concern with my spouse. For the first 12 years of our marriage, he opposed mental health assistance despite my education and experience. His perspective began to change two years ago, and we've made significant progress together.

In 2012, my only sibling faced a stressful legal battle, resulting in a four-year prison sentence. Out of family loyalty, I paused my educational goals to support him. Once he was prepared, I returned to focus on completing college—the only immediate family member to do so. Despite this setback, I achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.371, a commendable accomplishment given the circumstances. Now, I plan to focus full-time on my graduate coursework, making it my absolute first priority.

I am compassionate and empathetic, with strong moral and ethical values. Pursuing a Master’s Degree in social work has always been my ultimate goal, opening professional doors and providing opportunities to engage in my local community in the Central Valley of California, ____. My goals include working with children and families and enhancing family structures, particularly through advanced therapeutic communication techniques.

MSW Personal Statement Military Family