Serving others is as essential to my existence as breathing. When I was only 12 years old, I was a Special Olympics volunteer where I trained and supervised both horses and riders in the equestrian competition. My dedication to the service of others has also found expression through my work with the American Cancer Society's "Look Good, Feel Better" program, where I cut and fitted wigs, as well as taught make-up techniques to cancer patients while they underwent chemotherapy. In addition, I proudly served a local battered women's shelter by providing haircuts to its residents. I strongly believe that both my desire and dedication to service have led me down the path to a career in social work. As Mother Teresa said, “A life not lived for others is not a life.” (Mother Teresa, n.d., internet). I take these words of wisdom to heart, and try to apply them to my daily life.
Besides my community service experience, I have excelled in a diversity of academic courses, including general and developmental psychology, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, fundamentals of nursing, health assessment, maternal and child nursing, and sociology. Currently, my overall GPA stands at 3.33. As a certified nursing assistant, it is my goal to pursue a BSW, and earn an MSW afterward. Furthermore, I am currently taking an Intro to Social Work course, a course that is reinforcing my conviction that a career in social work is the path I must pursue. I feel that social work will give me the opportunity to help people in a way that I was put here to help others -- a calling that I take very seriously.
For me, the call to community service has become stronger and stronger each day. For several years, I have worked as a certified nursing assistant in the home health field, and in private facilities in Florida and Georgia. I assisted multiple individuals and families -- some with various conditions, including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, as well as those recovering from a stroke. This role meant assisting them with nearly all their daily activities, particularly those of a cognitive nature. This health care experience has brought me face-to-face with people who depend on me for many of their needs. Indeed, the challenges of serving these populations have helped prepare me for future challenges in the field of social work. As Joshua J. Marine once said, “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful" (Acosta, 2014, internet). As a part of the healthcare field, I have faced and overcome many challenges. Yet, I still have so far to travel along my chosen path.
Lastly, I would like to add that my journey as a health care provider has been a meaningful one. Personal experiences, as well as my strong passion and desire to help those in need, have led me to this career choice. My goal is to be an example within the healthcare field, one who demonstrates how other people can truly care and possess a genuine desire to help others. A specialized knowledge, compassion, and a desire to learn will drive me to be the best healthcare professional I can be — treating patients with the honor and respect that they deserve, while helping them succeed. I can think of no better way to spend my life than to invest it in the service of others. This is my deepest joy, and I intend to see it realized in the highest and best way possible.
Lastly, I believe that I bring a unique set of academic skills, commitment to service, and compassion for those in need to the field of social work. It is my sincere desire to devote myself to the service of others in this capacity. As Mike Dooley said, "At this very moment, there are individuals only you can reach, and differences only you can make in their lives" (Mason, 2013, internet). I strongly believe that this is true in any one's life. As a social worker, I hope to touch the lives of many people in need. In short, I want to not only help people. I want to inspire people.
References
Acosta, G. (28 Feb, 2014). 31 inspirational quotes for when the going gets tough. Retrieved from https://msw.usc.edu/mswusc-blog/31-inspirational-quotes-for-when-the-going-gets- tough/
Mason, A. (17 Nov, 2013). Social worker quotes. Retrieved from http://www.naswe.org/inspirational-social-worker-quotes/
Teresa, Mother. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/misattributed- to-mother-teresa
