Honors: Special Topics – HONS 295 – 51
Through this class, I had the AMAZING opportunity to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a small group of honors students and two honors staff members (and the cutest baby in the world) with an overall focus on “bridging the gap” between the two communities. This class taught me many valuable skills including how to wander and observe without a predeveloped plan as well as how to work collaboratively with students from other disciplines and perspectives. Additionally, I was able to experience the beauty (and delicious food) of Pittsburgh first hand! I hope to return to Pittsburgh one and am even considering the University of Pittsburgh for grad school.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TbTBKw2BcLCFqA_BcTL_5EesUA_6L5Zx/view?usp=sharing
Social Problems and the Development of Social Policy – SOWK 300 – 01
This class expanded my understanding of policy advocacy in the field of social work and helped me to learn more effective ways of researching and writing policy as well as opened up public policy advocacy as a potential career for my future in the field of social work. For our final paper, we analyzed a social problem within our community and developed a policy that would positively impact or even eliminate the problem entirely. I focused on how the lack of mental health resources in America (specifically in rural communities) has created a mental health crisis in many of these areas, and how telepsychiatry can open the door for treatment in underserved communities.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SPNtusLhTFUR8VzriwQ3UU8GDJ5t0gF4/view?usp=sharing
Human Behavior and the Social Environment II – SOWK 302 – 01
In this class, we focused on group interventions and working within agencies. This was especially interesting and valuable for me because I hope to work as a therapist in either a juvenile detention center or psychiatric hospital, but of which heavily rely on group interventions as a treatment model. Throughout this course, I learned the value of collaboration and communication within group settings as well as many of the skills necessary to lead treatment groups.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11H-98X9DYNiXA5PeFxq0iKrPStR3jr3m/view?usp=sharing
SpTp: Reproductive Justice – HONS 495 – 52
This has been one of my favorite classes I have taken at Longwood thus far! We analyzed much of the history we had been taught in school with a reproductive justice lens and found that so much of what is taught in the American public school system is whitewashed and leaves out critical pieces of history. The students can tell that Dr. Dudley Shotwell cares so deeply about the material, which in turn excites us to put in the work and do more research on the topic. For my final project, I created a podcast focusing on human trafficking in Virginia as a reproductive justice issue and I had the opportunity to interview two women who work for the Virginia Attorney General on the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FbUo6Kl4-7rgyx5YhZumTkLAJr09rIfy/view?usp=sharing
Introduction to Social Work Research – SOWK 320 – 01
This class has definitely been one of the most difficult classes I’ve taken in college so far. Much of the challenge came with the workload transition of online classes, but I also struggled with understanding the research process and developing research proposals. This class taught me that I do not want to pursue a career in the social work field that is heavy in conducting research.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VnR4Yzlxbzi419xsuZi4VuKkrHyn8w5V/view?usp=sharing
Mental health and Social Work – SOWK 495 – 01
I was so excited to see this class being offered when I was registering for classes last semester! Although I am not entirely sure what specific career I want to pursue within the field of social work, I have a passion for mental health and I am leaning towards working within that population. This course greatly expanded my knowledge and understanding of specific mental health conditions a better prepared me to work with clients and families who have been impacted by these mental health disorders in the future.