My Statement of Purpose...for my Master's degree, not life.

Here is what I wrote for the portion of my Master's degree application that required a "Statement of Purpose." I had to answer specific questions in the form of a narrative, and I thought I would post it here for comment. Not that it really inspires much comment, but this way my devoted friends and relatives can get a glimpse of why I do what I do even when it causes me so much heartache at times.

Statement of Purpose
Aurora University
Submitted by: Joslyn K. Huntsman, MSW program applicant

I have a very vivid memory from around the age of 8 or 9, standing in my basement playroom in front of the kid-sized chalkboard my parents had bought for my sister and me. As I wrote on the chalkboard, my students (various sized stuffed animals and dolls) sat quietly and all in a row on the floor, eagerly waiting for the lesson of the day.
I was confident at that time in my life that I was going to be a teacher. I cannot count the times my career plans changed from that time on, but it didn’t take long after enrolling in my first Sociology class at Rock Valley Community College that I knew I was called to work in the social services field. My personal belief is that I have so much to give those with so little. Maybe I give myself too much credit, but I know that this world is
full of so much grief and heartache, and that one person can make a difference.

At this time in my life I am very blessed with a secure job at a local social service agency, where the management is very flexible and encouraging of advanced education. I am allowed the opportunity to work part-time, without having to change
positions, and can ultimately create my own work schedule. This freedom allows me to pursue my Master’s in Social Work full time, while continuing to learn from my work experiences and earn an income. It took awhile for me to become serious about pursuing graduate work, but when the decision was made, I knew it was right – and at the right time.

I believe my personal strength in the field of social work is my ability to be real with my clients. I work very hard at establishing rapport with the people I work with by recognizing our differences, and being honest about them, but also making sure to express my sincere desire to help the family work towards stability. I think the various types of clientele I have worked with appreciate my frankness regarding their situation and realize that although we are different, we can work together towards the same goal. I validate their concerns and anger, but bring to the table how they can change their situation and how I can help them. As for my major weakness – I am easily disappointed by people’s poor choices in life. In my former position as an Intact Family Case Manager, I would see families every week, and sometimes would get very frustrated with their lack of progress in services, or their blatant disregard for doing what was best for their children. I had to take time to realize that I was helping this
family – even if I couldn’t see it or they hadn’t utilized it, but that I had touched this family’s life one way or another. At some point I had to let go and just hope that the family would make better choices and have faith that other people in their lives would do what was right for the children if the situation worsened.

It is an unrealistic expectation for anyone entering the field of social work to think that the world is strictly black and white and that situations can always be solved by reading a text book. Relatively speaking, I have only been in the field a short time, yet
have experienced working with same-sex couples, parents with gender issues and
obesity, and even middle-class families with serious abuse and neglect issues. At one point after I had just graduated college, I was encouraged to apply for a position at my church working with the youth. I told my father – I don’t feel called to work full-time with kids from good homes. Volunteer with them, yes. But, I know that my place is working with the disadvantaged and chaotic. And I believe I do a good job relating to my
clients from all walks of life.

I hope that my detailed narrative thus far has shown an accurate depiction of how my beliefs are congruent with that of Aurora University’s School of Social Work Mission and Core Values. In most cases, the clientele we service have grown up in dysfunction and do not know anything different. To most of them, their case managers and counselors are the only stable people in their lives. We are their windows to function and stability. Through education, case workers like myself will be given additional tools – better skills – to work more effectively with the disadvantaged population, helping to facilitate an increase in changed behaviors. By educating the community, we can hope more people will be encouraged to take a stand and be the mentors and heroes so
desperately needed by our clientele.

Upon graduation from Northern Illinois University in 2000, my cumulative Grade Point Average was 2.600. My explanation for this is relatively simple: I had a different ideal about school, one that included going to class and achieving decent enough grades to graduate successfully. I can honestly say my view of education has changed
greatly in the last six years, and I now look forward to advancing in knowledge and skill in order to be better equipped in the field of social work.

I would like to conclude this narrative by thanking you for considering my complete application to Aurora University’s Master of Social Work program. I believe my ability to offer unique insight and participation in my coursework, would overall prove to be an asset to your program.