Jessica Smith

It is not always easy for people seeking help to state their needs or put words to their thoughts and feelings, particularly when these are tangled among feelings of confusion, fear, humiliation, anger and despair. I want to be able to show these people their strengths and abilities; the courage and determination that enable them to seek out help. My career as a social worker will give me the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to help people overcome problems and make their lives better.

I will be attending grad school for my masters degree in the social work program because I want to maximize my potential in giving the best care and support to helping our most vulnerable people. Continuing my education at this time will help me to pursue my understanding of people and their situations and to formulate plans of action appropriate to the circumstances that they might encounter. This involves understanding how experiences are perceived, understood and communicated by people, and how this has an impact on behavior and life situations, both positive and negative. To some extent, this understanding will always be incomplete and uneven because, in the realm of human experience, life is unpredictable and some uncertainty is inevitable. By continuing my education I can keep improving my practice skills which can, at times, be a difficult task but not an impossible one.