Perhaps what I am most proud of life is my long trajectory of helping others. This is why at mid-life, 50, I can now afford the luxury of my true love and devote myself to full time social work. Even though I have already been actively engaged in my calling since May of 2008, working as a Family Involvement Specialist and a dedicated Case Manager and I enjoy very much working with an inter-disciplinary team; I long to go forward as a professional and achieve the MSW that alluded me for too long. Being a non-traditional student at the half century mark carries advantages of accumulated wisdom upon which to depend in the formulation of social strategies.

 Your program is ideal for me because it will allow me to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I am especially interested professionally in working as a clinician doing assessments and therapy. Someday I would like to open my own practice working in collaboration with other clinicians.
 
I feel that I am a strong candidate to your program because I espouse the values of the social work code: service, social justice, dignity, advocacy of the sense of self-worth of the person; the importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. Throughout my professional and personal experiences, I have incorporated and continue to develop the values of the social work profession and look keenly forward to increasing my knowledge with a MSW from the University of XXXX.

I look forward to exploring the issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination and mental health concerns through with an eye towards the optimism of progressive social change, exploring issues of oppression, diversity, and open access to needed information, services and resources to promote social justice. I would like to think that my ability to accept and respect individuals as they are==physically, mentally, spiritually and culturally—to be my greatest strength and gift. As a social worker it is not only my duty but also my joy to help others: strengthening, promoting, maintaining and enhancing the wellbeing individuals, families, social groups, organizations and communities. Promoting ethical principles, values and standards of the profession must translate into acting in a trustworthy manner with integrity. I look forward to increasing my competence in the field of social work by developing knowledge and skills through completing my graduate studies at your program.

 I have many dreams that a Master’s in Social Work degree will allow me to accomplish.  One of my dreams is working as a Child and Family Therapist specifically working with adolescents with substance abuse and sexual identity issues. My dream job would be working with gay teenagers who struggle with their sexual identity and substance abuse; looking at how and if these issues relate to each other and if being gay increases the risk for substance abuse. I would also like to explore appropriate treatment modalities that work best with this population. I see myself working in a hospital setting with patients who are facing serious illness and death/dying issues, providing solidarity and counseling. Finally, I would like to create a community outreach program addressing the concerns and needs of the growing older gay male population. I was recently most impressed by an article that discussed the growing number of older gay men who are isolated and disconnected—frequently dealing with chronic health, financial and socialization issues without support or services to assist them in getting the help they need.

 My life experiences and career choices have all involved helping others. I can remember in elementary school raising money for UNICEF and donating money to local agencies to help feed the poor. In high school, I volunteered at the local hospital helping with patients who were receiving physical therapy or recuperating from a serious illness. In college, I was a peer mentor helping other college students to deal with personal and school issues and finding other resources to help them. My undergraduate degree is in Family Relations with a minor in Psychology and I specialized in Gerontology and Death and Dying issues. I currently work with children and families. I feel that a MSW degree will allow me to advance on my career path working with children, adolescents, adults and the aging population.

 All my work experience has involved helping others and utilizing my abilities to coordinate services and activities. From my work as waiter to working in the Entertainment Industry to being a Realtor—in some way it has all related to my ability and drive to help others. Through all my work experiences, I have developed a great sense of humor, patience, objectivity, compassion and diplomacy. My ability to work with diverse populations from oppressed to affluent communities is a great asset for a social work professional and I this comes naturally to me.

I have experience working with people with substance abuse issues, sexual orientation and sexual addiction issues, and other mental health issues. I have worked in the field of social work for 6 years, providing supportive services to children, families and the ageing population. The greatest contribution that I might be able to make to society would be to incorporate all my previous experiences and education to provide the best and most appropriate treatment/services for my clients.

 Our aging gay male population face special challenges and it is critically important that we have an adequate supply of MSW Social Work professionals who take it upon themselves to provide special consideration to this important sector of our society, suffering as they are all too often by drug-ridden pasts combined with suffering the ravages—both psychological as well as physical. I look forward towards taking a special interest in this population as an MSW professional. And I want to thank you for consideration of my application to your program.