I have always found the ability to help other people and communities around me especially rewarding, which is perhaps the main motivation that has driven my fascination for social work. Throughout my life, I have always sought out and used all opportunities available to me to be of help people who are unfortunate or simply in need of a helping hand. Therefore, undertaking studies in social work was great opportunity to achieve my desire. Although my university education back in my home country, Uganda, was full of challenges due to lack of vital resources, I worked hard and gained a wide range of knowledge that is crucial in the social work, more especially in handling clients with psychological, social, as well as emotional needs.
My desire to work as a social worker is attributed to my life experience while growing up. Both my parents died of AIDS when I was about fifteen years old, and their death had a ineradicable mark on my life. Being the first born in the family, it was inevitable for me to take over all the responsibilities in the family, though at a very young age. Because of this experience, I became interested in social work as a profession as by so doing I would get an opportunity to help other people who could be facing the kind of life that I encountered. I took my first step towards achieving my desire of becoming a social worker by enrolling as a volunteer in various institutions in Uganda involved with taking care of orphans and vulnerable kids. Later on when I joined university, it was a great opportunity for me of making another step closure to achieving my dreams, by studying social work.
The foundation that was laid for my social work studies while at the university is one of the contributory factors for my decision to pursue an advanced degree in social work. Placement is one of programs that students have to undergo as per the university requirements. To me, placement programs meant more than fulfilling university requirements. It is through this program that I first implemented my class-work knowledge, adding practical experience to my knowledge as a social worker. At the end of my first degree studies in social work, I felt that there is still more to be learnt in this field, hence the desire to make a step further through undertaking an advanced degree in social work.
At the end of this program, I have high expectations that I would by knowledgeable enough to handle various issues related with social work. With my desire to serve in the military, I have noted the kind of problems facing those in this field. Thus, I expect that this program will impart me the basic knowledge in helping those in the military in solving these problems. As mentioned above, I grew up under a very life challenging environment. Thus, having gone through such life is a great experience as well as a strength that will assist me while serving my clients. However, my greatest limitations are cultural challenges. There is a considerable difference between the American culture and that of my home country, Uganda. As such, although I have leant a bit of American culture since I arrived in the country, there is still a lot to learn.
Based on my knowledge and experience in the field of social work, I believe that have the stamina to successfully go through the challenging requirements of the advanced degree program in your institution. Besides, I believe that this is the only institution that can effectively prepare me towards achieving my aspiration of serving in the military of this country.
