Why do you want to be a Social Worker?

Why do you want to be a Social Worker? Consider including:
Significant factors influencing your decision to pursue a Master of Social Work degree at Portland State University.
Information regarding personal, academic, and past human service experiences that will contribute to your success as a graduate student and Social Worker.
Over the past 7 years i have been engaged in the work of supporting and partnering with individuals, communities, and organizations advancing the needs of refugee and immigrant populations in the tri-county area. I came to this work through my life experience as refugee and as consumer of behavioral health services. My interest in being a social worker is deeply rooted in my work with refugee and immigrant populations.

“It’s bright Sunday morning, and I am walking in Lurealhurst Park with 12 women of African descent for their first visit to the park. There chatting in Somali and some in Shwhali, and slowly strolling through the park as group. I am a bit head and guiding them and trying my best to make them feel comfortable. The glaces and stares from onlookers are obvious, but the women don’t seem all that deterred by them. In the back of my mind, I am aware of how they are engaging in the work of resistance and transgression. This is Luheralhurst park off-course, a park in a city that is predominantly white in a closed space ( parks are often seen as the domain of whiteness), where black faces with hajibs are seen as oddity. I am sharing this story with you because it illustrates the work that i do well. I have worked with refugee communities, and i am refugee myself and for the last 7 years providing an array of services in various roles. My work is informed by intersectional idenity as black man

The women of the group constantly remind me that I could be one of their sons, and often feel they need to offer me advice, however, unsolicited. “

In trying to answer the question “ why do i want to be a social worker” i am reminded of a conversation I had a few years ago with a collogue of mine whom i deeply respect. This collogue is one of the few professional counselors of african descent that i have had the privilege of working and collaborating with. I was telling them about my desire to go back to graduate school and pursue master’s of social work. They were supportive of my wish to advance my learning but, they cautioned me to reflect deeply on historical impact of social work ( inturn social workers) on the communities that i was striving to serve. I remember, there exect words were that social work in the western context has deep legacy of racism and colonialism. I have also had the privlige of working beside several collogues whom possess MSW and some LCSW. Although, social work has deep legacy of supporting

This is a great start – I love that you tied this group into your essay. You have so much to say about what your community needs. I would give a quick overview of why you are walking a group of African women through the park – What is the purpose of the group and why do they need this kind of support?

I would also incorporate some language about how you have worked alongside licensed social workers, developing programs and curriculums. What about that approach (vs. clinical approach for example) was interesting to you and makes you want to pursue that as a career?

I would also be sure to mention your accomplishments. Taking a community-based approach to developing a culturally specific SUD program, coordinating CBO’s to gather community input, training immigrants and refugees so that they can be the ones responding to the needs of their community.

I would also use some of this language that you already have:
Mahad Hassan is an African refugee with extensive experience in community-based mental health programming. Through his advocacy efforts and partnerships with stakeholders and community members, Mahad supports the creation of a culturally specific substance use disorder for refugee and immigrant communities. Mahad is also Peer Support Specialist / QMHA and is currently completing his CADC 1. Mahad deeply values a collaborative and community-based approach to addressing healthcare inequities, with a particular focus on behavioral health inequities in black communities, both native born and refugee/immigrant. Mahad’s work is rooted in his lived experience as a black-African refugee and consumer of behavioral health services, with a focus on anti-oppressive and equity-oriented solutions.

Let me know if I can review again before you submit. Happy to help edit if needed.

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