Introduction

Currently, my academic goals begin with finishing my bachelor's in psychology in hopes that I

will be able to pursue a master's degree in social work to follow. I think another short-term

academic goal of mine is to try to get in on a research project before I graduate. If things go well

and I am able to obtain my bachelor's degree, to follow I would like to be able to work

somewhere during the time that I will be applying to schools for my master's in social work.

Ideally, I would be able to work in a children's home or a homeless shelter in order to get a bit of

a taste for social work, and the area of helping the homeless really interests me and is something

I hope I am involved in through my career. It would be ideal to know that I would be able to get

right into a master's program after applying, but if not, the goal would be to find a job as close to

being a social worker until I am able to be accepted to a master's program. Moving forward from

there would be pursuing the master's and then acquiring the training and licensure to become a

Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the state of North Carolina. This goal is meaningful because

it has always been such a passion of mine to help others and to provide skillful advice for

problem-solving and creating resolutions for individuals who are in need.

Plan

I.​ Coursework

-I still have to take my History of Psychology course, which is a requirement for my

bachelor's degree.

-I will have a capstone project coming in the Fall semester for my Leadership minor
 -For the coming summer semester, I am taking some electives at the University of North

Carolina Charlotte, like WGST 3140- Domestic Violence and WGST 3050- Feminist

health care studies( University Catalogs).

II.​ Research Experience

-I am interested in research in Sexual assault prevention which seems to be what Dr.

Myers research is around.

III.​ Internships

-I think it would be a really rewarding opportunity to be able to have an internship

working with the youth homeless population

-If I am unable to go somewhere for that specific population, then just the general

homeless population would still be an interesting opportunity.

IV.​ Testing

-There is a standardized test called the GRE that most graduate schools require however

some students get waivers and not all schools require them (Tobin).

V.​ Graduate Programs

-NC State University offers two year MSW however they require a 3.0 GPA for

admittance. (Master of social work)

-Tulane University has no GRE required and I could not find a minimum GPA however

they require 300 hours of fieldwork over three semesters which may be difficult if I am

working to pay for the program (Masters of social work program (MSW)).

VI.​ Networking

-I try to take time to connect with professors whom I have enjoyed having
 -Dr. Scales is my former Research Statistics professor and was very helpful in

guiding me through the tough process of being excused from university.

-Dr. Byllesby was also very helpful during that time as well as writing me a

recommendation letter. She also taught me a lot about how research projects take place

and the importance of participating in them to become informed.

Challenges and solutions

I.​ Barriers

-I am paying my way through school myself, and currently, I have been taking

full-time course loads since returning to school.

-I also am my grandfather's caretaker, which takes up a majority of the time that I

have outside of school. This is also it a barrier because I cannot really go to school

at a distance that is outside of my ability to take care of him.

II.​ Solutions

-​ I have savings from the time that I was kicked out of school. I worked the

entire time at a full-time job for 40-hour weeks and accumulated a good bit

that always went straight to a savings account for when I wanted to return

to school

-​ I am able to go to school online for the majority of the time, especially for

the summer semesters. I can also go to school part-time and try and keep
 my days low or grouped so I am able to drive back to take care of him on

the days I am not attending or working on school.

Self-Care strategies

I.​ Meditation and Journaling

-I go on walks very often, especially when I am overloaded. This practice helps me clear

my mind while I am out walking as well as be outside in nature which always feeds my

soul and makes me feel better.

-I want to be more consistent with journaling by setting time aside that is devoted to

being able to journal. I also think it would be helpful to set a reminder for this time to

ensure that I am reminded to be intentional.

II.​ Working out

-​ I currently maintain a workout regimen of three days a week, minimum not

including walks, scattered throughout the week. This is important for me because

I truly think any time I get stressed, especially anxious, working out works off a

lot of the energy and the scared goose skin feeling that comes when I get all

worked up.

III.​ Family

-​ I devote a lot of time to my family, not only to care for them but to be with them

and to soak up the time that we have together because it is fleeting and so

cherished. Every year, there are more feelings of loss at how hard it is to be

together and relax and just enjoy the presence of family, so every opportunity I

have for that is so precious and meaningful to me.

This project has really helped my map out what the next 3 years are gpoing to look like
with graduation and applications and continuing to push myself to be better and strive to
accomplish all that I dream of. It has also helped me focus on what is going to keep me
motivated and how I am going to be able to alleviate some of the burden of working hard on a
better future for myself. Writing this paper has helped me see that while the journey to getting to
the career I want may be demanding, I will endure for the satisfaction of the end result of being
able to help others and give them a better chance at new beginnings. I am very appreciative of
the hardships on my academic journey so far because it has led me to have a greater drive and
more incentive to achieve my goals and prove my self-doubt wrong.
 References
Master of social work. School of Social Work. (n.d.).
https://socialwork.chass.ncsu.edu/academics/msw/

University catalogs. University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Modern Campus

Master of social work program (MSW). Tulane Master of Social Work. (n.d.).
https://info.tssw.tulane.edu/master-social-work/?utm_campaign=tu_ssw_hc_msw_m_goo
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CQjw5ubABhDIARIsAHMighawLdRvc-rZNHRKUsJtLvdu33XLRjuKUq41agy7rykGlL-Zcli9
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d=20769317898&gbraid=0AAAAADHXOA1u7JaK4U0BYGUjyF-hTXDB_

Tobin, J. (2025, March 19). Guide for master’s in psychology application. Psychology.org.
https://www.psychology.org/resources/graduate-application-guide/