Commitment to Helping Children and Families
Commitment to Helping Children and Families
Born premature four and a half months early weighing one pound 11ounces, many consider it a small miracle that I survived in that tiny body. Since my organs had not developed fully, I required special medical care in the neonatal intensive care unit. But here I am today, a healthy adult who has survived many challenges since the preemie stage of my life. Challenges that have given me an enormous sense of gratitude and motivation to serve as a social worker helping improve the lives of others. Why? Because during early childhood, my life was greatly improved when two total strangers reached out and rescued me. Therefore, I want to do the same for minority children and families needing support – needing to be rescued.
At age five, I was adopted into a wonderful two-parent home. Through their loving care and superb parenting skills, I was able to complete high school and start taking undergraduate courses at College. Although I grew up in a two-parent home, there were times I felt that I didn’t identify with anyone. Internally, I was always searching for something worthy that I didn’t feel. This occasional feeling of emptiness eventually peaked my interest to connect with my biological family. Nonetheless, my adoptive parents have impacted my life in such a positive way that I want to impact the lives of others as they have done for me.
At age 23 (six years ago), my life took another drastic change when I summoned the courage to find my biological family using the Internet. Surprisingly, I found my older brother, who was incarcerated at the Terrell Facility in Texas. He sent me a 16-page letter and from that start of communicating, I eventually found and met my biological parents.
During those six years of being involved with my biological family, I experienced a lot of ups and downs; hardships that have made me an even stronger person. Some of the ups when interacting with my biological family included the joy of knowing I have nine other siblings, knowing that both parents are alive and healthy, knowing that I was accepted by them, though missed many years that could have filled my feeling of emptiness, etc. However, the downs were sadly seeing that some of my siblings had not used their skills and talents to do positive things with their lives; some associated with the “wrong crowd” as followers; and some had not found their goal or purpose in life. They were ill equipped to effectively deal with hardships. They were not exposed to positive role models or had any one to show them a productive way to approach life.
That six-year time span of interacting with my biological family forced me make better decisions and be a leader rather than a follower. It also motivated me to be a positive role model for my 10 siblings. Showing them that despite one’s environment and bad decisions of the past, that they too can take control of their lives and become productive citizens in society. Therefore, I not only want to help strangers, my family, and other families – especially those in the Hispanic community.
Over the past seven years, I’ve served in the military with 13 more years to complete before I can retire. However, while finishing active duty in the military, I am now ready to prepare for the next stage of my career.
As is the case with other minority cultures, the Hispanic community experiences additional risks and hardships in life. According to the National Alliance for Hispanic Families (NAHF), they are the “largest and fastest-growing minority community in the United States” -especially in Texas. Although government programs are established to support and assist, “chronic inequities and disparities” continue to adversely affect day-to-day life of hard-working, low-income families.
Chronic inequities and disparities have been identified by many organizations emphasizing the plight of minority, underserved communities. To name a few: The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation realized the barriers healthcare professionals face to provide meaningful, supportive services for underserved communities. Therefore, the Foundation set up several model programs across the country to teach culturally appropriate care for diverse populations. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases initiated several intervention programs using risk-based categories of underserved populations for healthcare. The American Psychology Association (APA) established the Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) program to address mental and behavioral needs of underserved populations (e.g., minority persons, older adults, children). And Focal Point stressed to its readers that dealing with a system funded to support and provide “culturally relevant” service that addresses the needs of minority populations (e.g., Asian, Native American, Hispanic, African American) are culturally inadequate to do so. Consequently, there is a greater need and more opportunities for me to help as well as support these diverse minority populations.
My short-term goals are to complete undergraduate study in Health and Human Services and then attend Officer Candidate School. After graduating as an Officer, my last 13 years of active duty will be served in the healthcare field.
When searching for a specific area presenting a high level of disparities for the minority community, the field of healthcare is a common theme found throughout the literature. In one study done by the American Medical Association for the Commission to End Health Care Disparities, it found increasing evidence that “widespread and persistent racial and ethnic disparities in health care” continue to plague minority families. This is the reason, in part, that I’ve selected the healthcare field.
My long-term goal is to complete 20 years of service, retire from military service, and then work as a social worker bringing positive change to the lives of minority children and families. Achieving this goal allows me to live by and implement my favorite Bible verse: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3-4).
I decided to apply for the Master’s degree through Worden School of Social Work at Our Lady of the Lakes University (OLLU) because your institution ranks in Tier 2 in U.S. News Best College Compass as a national university. OLLU also ranks “among the top universities nationwide” that awards Master degrees to Hispanics and “one of only three degree programs in the country” with emphasis on service to Hispanic children and families.
So here I am today - from a preemie to a fully developed, healthy adult – ready to make a difference and contribute to society; serve as a role model to my family; and commit my skills, knowledge, and service to minority communities of the underserved. All that’s required as a starting point is acceptance in your prestigious academic program. All that’s required is the opportunity to show that I can successfully complete your academic requirements and become a graduate that OLLU will be proud of.
References
American Medical Association (2005). Quality Health Care for Minorities: Understanding Physicians’ Experiences. Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/public-health/eliminating-health-disparities/commission-end-health-care-disparities/quality-health-care-minorities-understanding-physicians.page
American Psychology Association (2014). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/gr/issues/gpe/populations.aspx
Focal Point (1988). Services to Minority Populations: What Does It Mean to Be a Culturally Competent Professional? Retrieved from http://pathwaysrtc.pdx.edu/pdf/fpSU88.pdf
Macy Foundation (2012). Improving Education for the Care of Underserved Populations. Retrieved from http://macyfoundation.org/docs/issue_briefs/Macy_brief_Education-Underserved-Pop_09102013.pdf
National Education Association (2002). Minority Community Outreach. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/MinorityCommunityOutreach.html
National Foundation of Infectious Diseases (2002). A Report on Reaching Underserved Ethic and Minority Populations to Improve Adolescent and Adult Immunization Rates. Retrieved from http://www.nfid.org/publications/reports/adoladultwhitepaper.pdf
