Personal Statement help
Hi,
I am applying for an MSW program. I have my master's in clinical psych but want to switch to social work and work in/start a nonprofit. I love psychology but have realized that I don't like being a therapist or case manager. This is my first SOP draft.
Here is the prompt:
A significant social problem currently facing America is the negative stigma given to mental illness and mental health treatment. For many, mental illness is a mysterious force that overtakes someone and holds them hostage. Individuals suffering from mental illness are depicted in the media as being unstable, helpless, and dangerous. Mental illness is often seen as a sign of weak character and not as a disease; this is especially true for illnesses such as depression. What is truly tragic is that often times this stigma prevents an individual from seeking mental health treatment for fear of being ridiculed or being treated differently. They may not want to admit that they are suffering due to all the negative associations.
Currently there are numerous non-profit organizations dedicated to mental health issues and addressing stigma. If I had the power and resources, I would work with such organizations to educate the public about mental illness in order to eliminate the fear and mystery surrounding it. This past summer I helped The National Allegiance for Mental Illness coordinate their annual walk to raise awareness of mental health issues and stigma. Such an event is an excellent vehicle to start a conversation about mental illness in a supportive, receptive environment.
I would also like to team up with the various mental health focused nonprofit organizations to create a panel to work on education projects. One such project would be creating a mental health history month in order to illustrate how mental health treatment has improved since the early mental hospitals. Halloween is an excellent opportunity to discuss the negative associations with mental health. Many haunted houses include asylums, which perpetuate the idea that mental illness is scary and monstrous; your neighbor, family member or coworker cannot have mental illness. I would also like to work with other organizations to coordinate a campaign to educate the public about the harmful effects of using the word “crazy,” much like how the LGBTQ community educated the public about using the word “gay” as an insult.
I have spent the last three years working in community mental health; I completed my practicum at a community mental health clinic in Madison Heights. One of my most powerful memories from working at the clinic was when I counseled a female victim of emotional abuse; she was terrified to leave her husband and was distraught over the fact that he did not respect her. She stated that he should respect her because she gave him a child; I spent the session trying to illustrate that she is deserving of respect simply for being a person. While at the clinic, I had the opportunity to counsel individuals who would otherwise not be able to afford therapy. Knowing the struggle some clients had simply to come to the session pushed me to work harder to serve them.
I spent the last year working as a resource coordinator for adjudicated youth in Detroit and the downriver area. The youths’ families were economically disadvantaged; some parents worked numerous jobs, which left their children unsupervised. I worked with families to obtain medication, I spoke with schools to schedule tutoring sessions, and I drove the youth to appointments when they did not have consistent access to transportation. Working with the youth was a challenging experience because they are essentially powerless; they cannot drive so they are dependent on their parents, many times they cannot work due to school and the requirements of probation such as group therapy. I am currently assisting with an intensive outpatient substance abuse program at a different clinic working with former addicts who are attempting to rebuild their lives.
The community organization concentration would allow me to enact social change by working cohesively with organizations devoted to removing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Classes such as “Planning for Organizational and Community Change” and “Organizing for Social and Political Action” would enable me to take on a leadership role by providing me with crucial organizational and interpersonal skills. The community and social systems concentration will build upon the community organization concentration by preparing me to work with individuals, organizations, state level government, and other groups. I truly believe that these two concentrations will enable me to achieve the goals I stated in the opening paragraph.
I will utilize my values and experiences in order to empower others. My values ensure that I will always approach clients without prejudice and an open mind. I will not make assumptions about another individual based on their age, race, or their neighborhood. As a Humanistic psychologist, I believe in the inherent value and power of the individual. Through my experiences I have learned to promote an individual’s ability to change by validating them while making an effort not to push for too much change at one time. Another Humanistic principle that I practice is unconditional positive regard, the unconditional acceptance and support of another individual.
Although my values fit within the values of social work, I may face a conflict with the values of the profession. If I feel such a conflict, my first reaction will be to explore why I feel conflicted. Once I can pinpoint a reason, it will be easier to explore the opposing viewpoint as well as determine why such a conflict exists. I would then discuss my conflicted feelings with a supervisor.
Thank you again for your help :)
I am applying for an MSW program. I have my master's in clinical psych but want to switch to social work and work in/start a nonprofit. I love psychology but have realized that I don't like being a therapist or case manager. This is my first SOP draft.
Here is the prompt:
- Describe a social problem. Assuming you have the power and resources at your disposal, what would you recommend for intervention and/or social change to address the social problem?
- Describe how your personal and intellectual qualifications, past human service experience and/or future goals are relevant to assisting the most economically and socially disadvantaged groups in our society. Please use specific examples.
- How will your chosen MSW dual concentration help you reach your personal and professional goals?
- The NASW Code of Ethics includes the following statement:
A significant social problem currently facing America is the negative stigma given to mental illness and mental health treatment. For many, mental illness is a mysterious force that overtakes someone and holds them hostage. Individuals suffering from mental illness are depicted in the media as being unstable, helpless, and dangerous. Mental illness is often seen as a sign of weak character and not as a disease; this is especially true for illnesses such as depression. What is truly tragic is that often times this stigma prevents an individual from seeking mental health treatment for fear of being ridiculed or being treated differently. They may not want to admit that they are suffering due to all the negative associations.
Currently there are numerous non-profit organizations dedicated to mental health issues and addressing stigma. If I had the power and resources, I would work with such organizations to educate the public about mental illness in order to eliminate the fear and mystery surrounding it. This past summer I helped The National Allegiance for Mental Illness coordinate their annual walk to raise awareness of mental health issues and stigma. Such an event is an excellent vehicle to start a conversation about mental illness in a supportive, receptive environment.
I would also like to team up with the various mental health focused nonprofit organizations to create a panel to work on education projects. One such project would be creating a mental health history month in order to illustrate how mental health treatment has improved since the early mental hospitals. Halloween is an excellent opportunity to discuss the negative associations with mental health. Many haunted houses include asylums, which perpetuate the idea that mental illness is scary and monstrous; your neighbor, family member or coworker cannot have mental illness. I would also like to work with other organizations to coordinate a campaign to educate the public about the harmful effects of using the word “crazy,” much like how the LGBTQ community educated the public about using the word “gay” as an insult.
I have spent the last three years working in community mental health; I completed my practicum at a community mental health clinic in Madison Heights. One of my most powerful memories from working at the clinic was when I counseled a female victim of emotional abuse; she was terrified to leave her husband and was distraught over the fact that he did not respect her. She stated that he should respect her because she gave him a child; I spent the session trying to illustrate that she is deserving of respect simply for being a person. While at the clinic, I had the opportunity to counsel individuals who would otherwise not be able to afford therapy. Knowing the struggle some clients had simply to come to the session pushed me to work harder to serve them.
I spent the last year working as a resource coordinator for adjudicated youth in Detroit and the downriver area. The youths’ families were economically disadvantaged; some parents worked numerous jobs, which left their children unsupervised. I worked with families to obtain medication, I spoke with schools to schedule tutoring sessions, and I drove the youth to appointments when they did not have consistent access to transportation. Working with the youth was a challenging experience because they are essentially powerless; they cannot drive so they are dependent on their parents, many times they cannot work due to school and the requirements of probation such as group therapy. I am currently assisting with an intensive outpatient substance abuse program at a different clinic working with former addicts who are attempting to rebuild their lives.
The community organization concentration would allow me to enact social change by working cohesively with organizations devoted to removing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Classes such as “Planning for Organizational and Community Change” and “Organizing for Social and Political Action” would enable me to take on a leadership role by providing me with crucial organizational and interpersonal skills. The community and social systems concentration will build upon the community organization concentration by preparing me to work with individuals, organizations, state level government, and other groups. I truly believe that these two concentrations will enable me to achieve the goals I stated in the opening paragraph.
I will utilize my values and experiences in order to empower others. My values ensure that I will always approach clients without prejudice and an open mind. I will not make assumptions about another individual based on their age, race, or their neighborhood. As a Humanistic psychologist, I believe in the inherent value and power of the individual. Through my experiences I have learned to promote an individual’s ability to change by validating them while making an effort not to push for too much change at one time. Another Humanistic principle that I practice is unconditional positive regard, the unconditional acceptance and support of another individual.
Although my values fit within the values of social work, I may face a conflict with the values of the profession. If I feel such a conflict, my first reaction will be to explore why I feel conflicted. Once I can pinpoint a reason, it will be easier to explore the opposing viewpoint as well as determine why such a conflict exists. I would then discuss my conflicted feelings with a supervisor.
Thank you again for your help :)