Student Name: Sheba Andrew
Expected Graduation: 2018
What made you decide to enroll in the School of Social Work at SDSU?
I made a career change from the financial services industry to pursue my deep desire to be in the field of serving others. During my transition, I enrolled in substance abuse counseling certification program at UC San Diego Extension and I was introduced to social workers during my internship with the Navy Hospital at Camp Pendleton military base. I witnessed how human growth and development could flourish on its own when a clinician creates a supportive and safe environment. I saw how clients come forward for additional support and tools, and the difference it made for them in their recovery process. This experience along with my prior volunteering efforts, my professional and life experiences propelled me to further my education beyond alcohol and substance abuse counseling and to be become a social worker.
What has been your most memorable experience in the School?
I was participated in the school’s screening of Resilience this spring. During this event, I was given the opportunity to introduce Dr. Vincent Felitti, one of the co-principle investigators of the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study which inspired the movie, Resilience. This groundbreaking research was one of the elements that inspired me to pursue my MSW, so being able to introduce and talk to him was a great honor for me and it all came full circle for me. In addition to that, I enjoyed being in Dr. Eunjeong Ko’s SW630 Direct Practice class and it was a memorable learning experience for me.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am a recipient of the Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) stipend program. After graduation, my goal is to work for programs catered to children, youth and families under Community Services and Supports (CSS), a service delivery component under the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). This desire stems from my belief in the need to prevent the development of maladaptive behavior in young people by postulating change at earlier ages. Eventually, my goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of California.
What are some of your favorite aspects of the program?
My favorite part of the program was my internship at Mending Matters, an organization that provides school-based counseling for at-risk youths. I was very fortunate to work alongside a great team and this internship experience gave me an opportunity to grow both at a professional and personal level. Particularly, my supervisor created a welcoming space for me to discuss any challenges that I was experiencing. I felt very comfortable in bringing up any topics during our supervision sessions and this has allowed me to grow tremendously as a clinician. This helped me to trust my own abilities to implement interventions and in being an effective therapist for clients.
Describe why you would recommend SDSU to potential students.
The department of social work has amazing professors like Dr. Eunjeong Ko and Prof. Liz Marucheau. I am so fortunate to have received guidance and mentoring from these two amazing teachers. They truly care, and make themselves available to students.
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