Upon graduation from Marquette University I sought after work experience in an

environment that would contribute to my professional development and allow me to gain

exposure to a variety of careers in the healthcare field. In spring of 2015 I accepted a full-time
job offer as a Clinical Research Assistant (CRA) with the Medical College of Wisconsin. I work
in the Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin Emergency Department, collaborating with the principal
investigators of many research studies. This position is what indirectly guided me to a career in
social work and, in particular, Medical Social Work.
During my time as a CRA I have been able to collaborate with the hospitals social
workers on research studies and also shadow their work, which has given me an inside view of
the demanding, yet rewarding, work that they do throughout the hospital. By shadowing, I have
gained a better understanding what career paths can lead to a job in social work, what it takes to
succeed, and what amazing experiences that can be had.
Through my undergraduate education at Marquette University I was given the
opportunity to intern with Project RETURN (Returning Ex-offenders To Urban Realities and
Neighborhoods), an organization that strives to help ex-offenders make a positive and permanent
return to their community, family, and friends. This organization is a member of Community
Shares of Greater Milwaukee, which is committed to raising funds for its nonprofit members,
while focusing on social justice, animal welfare, and the environment. My role in Project
RETURN was working closely with a case worker to assess the needs of each client, guide the
clients into creating manageable personal and career goals, and help them bring their goals to full
fruition through the many avenues that the organization provides. This internship allowed me to
integrate community engagement, applied work, and our own personal experiences with the
academic side. I completed research oriented assignments, reviewed scholarly work and met for
weekly discussions with my fellow students and professor, who is also the director of the
internship program.
My year interning at Project RETURN allowed me to acquire skills such as administering
intake assessments with clients, assessing what resources will be most beneficial, interviewing
clients, listening to firsthand accounts of individuals faced with incarceration, communicating
with employment agencies and potential employers, creating spreadsheets and other documents
to maintain client activities, matching clients with appropriate job opportunities, and assisting
clients with resumes, employment applications and transportation. This organization showed
such compassion and dedication to their clients that I immediately embraced their mission to
help break down stereotypes and labels that have hindered those who are striving to make
positive and permanent changes in their lives. This internship helped me to grow professionally,
academically, and personally, and will contribute greatly to my success in graduate school and to
a career in social work.
The time I dedicated to volunteering during my high school and college years allowed me
to work with all kinds of people and support a number of important causes. Starting in high

school and into my college years I volunteered for the Community Youth Network (CYN),
located in Grayslake, Illinois. CYNs mission is to care for and strengthen families while
protecting children from abusive or high risk situations. A team of psychotherapists, social
workers, and counselors provide general counseling services and specialized services, in areas of
sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, child abuse and neglect services, delinquency prevention,
and addiction services, along with many other services. Annually, CYN hosts Steppin' Out For
Kids, a dinner and dance fundraiser, and Take A Step For Kids, a 5K/10K run and walk. I have
participated in and assisted in organizing and setting up these extremely successful events,
created by such an admirable non-profit organization. Being around and working with the people
that make CYN possible also contributed to my passion and desire to come to the aid of children
and adults who are in need of a helping hand.
I also devoted time to the SPARK program for Alzheimers at the Milwaukee Public
Museum, a program for caregivers and their loved ones suffering from beginning to mid-stage
Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. I volunteered for Hunger Task Force, A Walk
to End Alzheimers, Relay For Life, and organized Sigma Kappa Sororitys Ultra Violet
Campaign events to fundraise five philanthropic organizations, as a part of my position on the
sororitys Executive Board.
I believe that my volunteer experience with these organizations and my leadership roles
have allowed me to develop and enhance important skills, as well prepare me for the
responsibility and dedication that will be required of me in a Masters Graduate Program and all
further education and career success.
My internship at Project RETURN allowed me to interact with a diverse population. My
unique involvement working across lines of diversity allowed me to work in an atmosphere that
respects, appreciates and understands the varying characteristics of individuals. This experience
revealed to me how mutually beneficial is it is to work with and be around people who are so
different from each other. Through utilizing available resources, my role was to assist each client
in forming a plan and goals in order to help them make these objectives a reality; in return these
individuals shared with me their perspectives, knowledge, and personal accounts. The clients
commitment to the programs they were a part of and to bettering their lives after facing
incarceration, taught me a great deal about redemption and resilience and reaffirmed that we
cannot look at these individuals as simply person A who committed crime B, but as real
individuals who have a past and a story to tell just as we all do.
All through my year working at Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, one social issue that
has been displayed quite frequently is interpersonal violence among youth. When thinking back
to the top chief complaints from patients that come through the Emergency Department, injuries
related to victims of violence are seen regularly, and many of these children make return visits
due to repeat victimization. During the patients visit a social worker is always consulted to
evaluate the situation, assess the safety and needs of the victim, and to provide appropriate

support; whether it be through giving helpful information or utilizing the best resources possible
to protect the child.
I believe a good foundation to addressing this problem would be to start with aiding
victims individually and then working towards greater social change within each community by
providing positive outlets and means for youth. Connecting these children and/or families with
professional help and facilitating them in building a strong support system would be extremely
beneficial to their future safety as well as emotional health. It may be constructive to follow and
monitor these children longitudinally to see what methods are working to help these children
make positive changes in their lives and which approaches dont seem to be advantageous. Once
we start to see which tactics are the most useful, we can then promote these findings to a larger
population of children and see if it proves to be helpful to the majority of youth who have
become victims of violence or have the potential to. I think that starting from the ground and
using trial and error to eventually elevate these children to a safer place and help them to take on
a new way of looking at their peers and at the world around them, would be one way to go about
addressing this social issue.
During my undergraduate career at Marquette University I was confronted with
unforeseen hindrances. I experienced the sudden passing of my significant other, which changed
my life considerably, as well as being faced with a number of familial and personal matters, all
of which impacted me emotionally and affected my academic performance. At this time in my
life I lacked the proper knowledge on how to cope with these events and in turn this affected
important areas of my life negatively. After seeking guidance following these happenings, I
became equipped with the coping skills necessary to help navigate through these misfortunes. As
I approach this next exciting chapter of my life, I am now fully capable and prepared to handle
anything that life may throw my way. I believe that overcoming adversity early on in my life has
allowed me to grow into a strong and ambitious woman; coupled with my experience related to
social work and my leadership roles, I am confident that I will succeed in an institution such as
yours. I do not believe in using these difficulties as excuses and I only address them to offer
some explanation as to why I believe my academic record does not accurately reflect my ability
to prosper at your university.