Choosing to become a social work professional came naturally for someone like me; always patiently listening to friends and family coming to me with their problems, helping them to brainstorm solutions. I make a point of laboring to see both sides of each issue and always do all that I can to stay as objective as possible. My non-judgmental mind set is the aspect of my personality that I most prize.

The other reason why I am drawn to social work is to have the privilege of helping victims of bullying to be spared some of the pain that I endured as a result of bullying when I was a child. I am very pleased that the problem of bullying is getting so much media and subsequently political attention and it is in this area that I hope to specialize as an LSW professional after completing my BSW. This subject is dear to me because from the sixth grade through high school, I was bullied for being gay. I would wake up every morning and pretend to be sick; if that didn’t work, I would sometimes cry the whole way to school on the bus. The constant taunts and teasing lowered my grades when I should have been excelling. I began to more fully realize my professional aspirations after receiving SAFE SPACE training. Now, I am highly confident helping LGBT people with their problems and I have done an enormous amount of personal research on the subject of bullying. As a gay man, I have discovered a voice that I didn’t know I possessed.

 My voice is now added to the fight for a voice for all those seeking equal rights, and a childhood free of oppression for generations to come. I am looking forward to a rigorous immersion in an intensive graduate program such as yours leading to LSW certification. I am most excited about the prospect of devoting myself to an in-depth study of methodology and theory as well as practice.

 I believe that compassion is one of the greatest resources for a social worker, passion for the quest to help the disadvantaged improve their lot in life. Every Wednesday, I volunteer my time from 2-6 to serve hot food to the community at the XXXX Church in XXXX, Ohio. My long term goal is to have a highly rewarding career in children services or working for a non-profit organization. I also want very much to continue to study Sign Language as I have already studied for 4 quarters and I am making rapid progress.

 I would like to concentrate on providing services to families and children in a state or local agency. I also look forward to lobbying for equal rights for all people irregardless of their sexual orientation. I have found my community in the LGBT community and this community is in need of its social workers, even more so than the general population, due to the history of violent discrimination and oppression to which we have been subjected.

I thank you very much for considering my application to your program.