What inspired you to choose your major?
I have chosen this particular career path, after avoiding it for years, for multiple reasons. One reason being that I love people, I love the planet, I love. I am made of it from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Another reason is because I am ambitious, and I enjoy variety, so this career path gives me unlimited room to grow as a person, change the world as much as I can, destroy harmful systems when needed, create helpful ideas and solutions, and maintain a consistent professional path while exercising my many talents, passions, and curiosities. One reason I would like to share is something I think I may have read on social media: "When I'm washing feet, my hands stop shaking." The reason I avoided social work for so long is because I am very sensitive, a "bleeding heart," and I know sadness like an old friend. I thought if I were to be a social worker that I couldn't handle it, that it would be too much to take. That I would care so much, so deeply, that it would destroy me.
But a few years ago, I realized several things. That I have already been destroyed many times in my life. But that I always come back wiser, softer, and sharper. Feeling great, intense grief and sadness in my life is just a part of having capacity for great love. Then I realized I was already doing it. I haven't done much "official" volunteer work, but my whole life has been this beautiful collage of helping and being helped. I've experienced a lot in my thirty-one years, been around a lot of different people, seen a lot of beauty, and also seen some of the worst things that could ever be. I am passionate about helping. We need each other. I want to protect vulnerable and oppressed populations, I want to support other social workers, I want to research, fight for equal rights and for everyone to have food, shelter, safety. I want to be a jack of all trades, a wealth of resources, connections and ideas. "When I'm washing feet, my hands stop shaking." That means that sometimes I can't take it. Sometimes everything seems so hard and so bad and I feel hopeless. But when I am helping, when I'm trying, I steady.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am an opportunist in a way, I suppose, and I stumble upon opportunities a lot. Usually due to my urge to talk to everyone, anyone, anytime. I have an ever-growing list of wonderful, helpful, inspiring potential endeavors in mind. Social Work is a versatile field. Anyone who wants to help can find a place. All you have to do is find your niche! I love my profession at every level, micro, mezzo and macro. Ideally, I will end up with my hands in all three, in some way, at some point. I aspire to shine in any role I fulfill and to use my strengths, such as my creativity, my extraverted personality, easily finding and bringing out strengths in others and my way with connecting people. I have a few things in the works, but nothing is set in stone as of this moment. No worries, though, I am sure you'll see me around.
How has your experience at OHIO Southern shaped your goals and aspirations?
My experience has shaped me via the connections with my peers, my professors and the clients and professionals I have had the pleasure to work with in my practicum placement. It has shaped me by furthering my knowledge of relevant topics, fueling my passion, and opening up more connections with other students and professionals who have that same passion for helping and learning. I feel like everyone says the final semester of your bachelor's is the one that almost kills ya. They weren't kidding, but this has also shown me that there is nothing I cannot overcome, go around, flow with. My resilience has reached an all-time high.
What is your favorite memory from your time at OHIO Southern?
My favorite memory has to be goofing around with my peers. Sometimes, having some laughs is essential for morale. Our group chat is something I hope we can keep active even as we graduate and part ways. I am so proud of my fellow soon-to-be graduates, they have worked hard to get here. We all have, and we have much to offer ourselves, our friends and families, the community, the world.
Who has been the most influential person during your studies, and how have they impacted you?
Dr. Abraham. He is so smart, and so curious, and so very kind. Discussions in his class were always such a highlight and he really enjoyed diving deep into topics with us. He is a great example of having a body that is aged, but a mind that continues to learn, imagine, grow and inspire. I had the chance to be a team lead at NASW Advocacy Day this year, meeting with legislature. My team was absolutely fantastic, and I think we did well. Some I knew, most I did not, but I think I did a good job of bringing everyone into the discussion, making sure everyone had a chance to share their valuable input and organizing the information we needed to present. When we were done, I think I may have seen that Santa Claus twinkle in Dr. Abraham's eye. That twinkle he gets when he's feeling riled up about social work. I hope I didn't imagine it, because I would be very happy if watching our team do our thing caused it.
What challenges have you overcome to reach this milestone, and what did you learn from them?
The challenges I have faced have been intense and plentiful. When I was a teenager, my friend's mom told me about the idea of souls choosing their path before they ever get here, and that I may have chosen a hard path for a reason. Whether that is something you believe, or I believe, or not, to me, that says maybe, deep down, I like a challenge. Maybe not in the moment, definitely not in the moment, but after the dust settles, I find that I have grown. My story is vibrant. I am an open book, so I would be happy to share details in some other situation, but it is too much to try and summarize here. I have learned many lessons, and do not intend to stop learning, but I might say the most important thing I have learned is the art of letting go. Not giving up. Letting go.
What advice would you give to incoming OHIO Southern students?
Don't forget about today. If you feel like you're drowning and the problems are too much, too many, too fast, remember yourself, remember mud puddles, hobbies that are only to be enjoyed, the breeze outside and how it feels on your skin. Today, the world is heavy and I guess there is a war now, but I woke up and decided to find a four-leaf clover for this pretty girl I like and throughout the morning found a whole handful that are now waiting for the class day to end in a plastic water bottle so they don't wilt.
What does being an OHIO Southern graduate mean to you?
Being an OHIO graduate means being a small part of lifting up Appalachians out of poverty and contributing to the challenging of stereotypes about people here. It means doing what I can to make higher education something that is no longer unheard of in my family. It means bringing language of hope, possibility and confidence into conversations in my community, with clients, with kids, with my friends and family.
