The beautiful aspect about goals is that they are not concrete; they are ever changing and evolving as you learn and grow. When first beginning my educational career, I never could have imagined that my goals would be what they are now.

Now that I have completed a 500 hour internship with Appomattox Department of Social Services, it has become abundantly clear that I thoroughly enjoy working within the field of human services and child welfare. With that being said, I plan to attend Radford University to obtain my Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) within the advanced standing program.

Due to my experience and knowledge gained through my internship, I was able to apply and receive the Child Welfare Stipend. This will provide me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of child welfare and continue working with DSS during my educational experience, as well as after graduation.

My goal and career plan is that this experience will further my career in child welfare and I will be able to become a Family Services Specialist and eventually move forward in that heirarchy. Doing this, will provide me hands-on experience with the population and making a difference on the micro level.

Additionally, I would love to work with children in the foster system who are aging out of the system and moving on to higher education, the workforce, the military, etc. That population needs someone to help guide them and act as a resource and support system. It is my dream to be able to conduct my own research regarding the success of college students who have endured the foster care system and withstood any trauma and what effect that has on their college success (academically, socially, and emotionally).

Life as a social worker is not about the income, it is about the outcome.