my true passion

   Helping others through social work is one of my main goals and passions in life. At Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, I would like to become a counselor and make a difference in the world. By turning my individual situation of having cerebral palsy, into solutions that can create a path of advocacy for people who do not have a voice in society, I believe I can enable my future clients to be confident in their own identity. Because I have a physical disability, my experience provides me with a unique sense of empathy for those who are disabled and whose opinions may not be heard. However, I intend to not only work with disabled individuals. I also plan to advocate for any individual seeking to discover the power of their own voice, which can be used as a tool enabling them to communicate their messages and experiences to make people aware of their problems. As a counselor or social worker, I want to guide people to become powerful individuals despite their circumstances.

As a social worker, I will have the ability to help people by fighting to change policies and perspectives of society. One global issue that is important to me is the longstanding Syrian refugee crisis.  My goal is to provide a platform for Syrian refugees to speak out about their personal experiences and opinions. Immigration laws, along with societal prejudice, make the lives of these refugees very difficult. Throughout the years I have become inspired to seek a solution for the root cause of this issue, which is Islamophobia. One of the results of this “phobia” is the proposal of a travel ban by the United States, against seven major Muslim nations. Although the ban was found unconstitutional by a federal judge, and was denied by the Supreme Court several times, certain people in power have internalized their hatred so much that they continue to be persistent in trying to stop Muslims from entering the U.S. What our society fails to understand is the distinction between the vast majority of Muslims who practice the peaceful religion of Islam and a small minority of politically motivated radical extremists who kill their own kind. So many Americans are consumed by Islamophobia, that it has become a deterrent from society’s hearing the perspectives of Syrian refugees, and thus, prevents people from coming together as a community to solve problems. We cannot take action when we are lacking in true understanding.

The only way to solve this humanitarian crisis is if Western nations and the rest of the world come together, regardless of their differences. I recognize that I cannot stop all conflict; however, as a counselor I can use my voice to provide emotional support for refugees and knowledge to people so that they can recognize this global conflict and understand its underlying causes. My extensive research on Syrian refugees makes me want to advocate for them and eventually become an ambassador for the United Nations. Ideally, I would like to see the eradication of anti-Muslim sentiment and intolerance, as well the automatic association of Muslims with violent acts and terrorism. I am eager to provide cultural education on the Muslim religion and its actual teachings to society, in the hopes of eventually providing peace and stability for Syrian refugees, who are driven out from their homes and unaccepted globally.

                I have learned that society tends to cast out individuals who exist outside of the small bubble known as “normal,” whether it is due to their religion or a disability. From a young age, I learned that in order to reach my goals, I must employ different methods compared to others and put in more effort and dedication because it may take me longer to complete tasks due to my cerebral palsy. Having a physical disability means it is a daily struggle to perform basic life activities such as cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. However, this does not mean that I cannot achieve my goals in life. Because certain tasks take me longer to complete, it allows me to pay more attention to details and gives me a higher sense of satisfaction when I do achieve them.

Sometimes not being able to help people physically can be very challenging; however, I am very good at being empathetic and offering emotional support. This is what I experienced when my father was diagnosed with cancer. I could not do anything for him physically, but I sat home with him every day keeping him company; we watched basketball together, I talked to him, helped him with phone calls, and listened to him tell me stories. I encouraged him with positive words such as be strong  and “I love you”. This experience made me realize that I want my future career to involve this individual care for people. As a counselor, I want to make people comfortable in their own skin, allowing them to use their voice to convey their messages and experiences. In addition, as a counselor I will provide emotional support to my patients by listening to their stories and having them take initiative to develop self-advocacy by leading discussions. The most important types of emotional support are patience and a positive attitude. As a counselor, I want to provide the most positive emotional support for all my patients. I will be there for my clients and provide them with hope and confidence in their stories, talents, and  abilities, allowing them to develop self-advocacy skills and become productive members of society. My father taught me how powerful emotional support truly is, and providing emotional support to my patients will be more important than physical support.

As a counselor, I can create an environment where people are not afraid to talk about religion or social problems. I plan to have open discussions with my clients, by asking open-ended questions such as “Why do you think you are here today?” and “What makes you unique?”. These conversations can help me break the ice and build a strong rapport with clients. A therapist’s work cannot begin until a comfortable relationship with a client is established; a strong connection with clients is the foundation for therapy. I want to give individuals the opportunity to express what is going on without subjecting them to double-blinded question, in which however they answer, they are somehow wrong. Rather than put a negative connotation to their answer, I want to hear them out and allow them to express themselves more freely. As a therapist, I will teach my patients how to take advantage of their own abilities. As a result, my clients will learn to accept their differences and embrace their unique identities and talents, because no one should ever be ashamed of who they are. No matter what life throws at you, people can always achieve their dreams and goals. In order to progress as a society, we must cast away this false idea of what “normal” is.

My internship at Abilities allowed me to focus on this issue and make a difference. During this time, I worked in business communications and helped students with their resumes and cover letters. I was able to advocate for the students and highlight the qualities that made them stand out as individuals. This internship helped me realize that I want to become a therapist to help people with their problems, along with becoming an activist who speaks up for people who feel like they do not have a voice. I am aware that there is a stigma against attending therapy, so I want to create an environment where people feel safe and comfortable to fully express themselves. I hope to make people comfortable talking about a variety of topics so we can alleviate their frustrations together.

I am eager to  join  the Molloy/Fordham university school of social service for a multitude of reasons. While I love helping others, I cannot commute to city every day because I  have cerebral palsy and I live  on Long island. Therefore, I am applying to Molloy /Fordham university hybrid social work program. I enjoy the traditional classroom setting with face to face interactions. I prefer individual assistance with professors on campus. I look forward to becoming a part of Molloy/Fordham university school of social service; I believe the social work program can provide me with the skills necessary to foster my development as a therapist, who allows people to understand themselves so that they can reach their full potential and influence others to do the same. Through the Molloy/Fordham university school of social service, I want to enhance my skills as an empathetic advocate for individuals. I know how good it feels to have someone believe that you have the ability to make a difference and bring out your full potential; as a result, I want to enlighten people so that they embrace their differences and highlight the qualities that make them better people. I can achieve this by using my social skills and ability to fully attach myself to something I’m passionate about: the success of my patients. Counseling is about connecting with people on a deep level, and my patience, dedication, and genuine passion make me an ideal counselor.