Social Worker from Palo Alto

/ Gunn Gym/

My time in high school

Attended high school in the
2000s

Overall high school experience
8/10.  I had a wonderful experience in high school- band, sports and friends!

Grades in high school
A's and B's.

 

Favorite subjects
English, Performing Arts

Struggled with...
Math! Trig was not easy!

Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation

Life since high school

“[My greatest accomplishment is ] working in the social work field with foster youth and helping older youth find adoptive placements. I have learned so much about the struggles and joys of family, building relationships and empowerment.”

Attended college / university at
California Lutheran University

Majored in
psychology and sociology

Post-graduate education or training
Graduate School of Social Work at University of Denver- I received a Masters in Social Work

Places lived in US
Colorado

Current occupations / past occupations
Social worker

Industries I've worked in
- Nonprofit

Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Absolutely.

Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
No, I always wanted to be in the "helping" field and I was so grateful that I could receive my MSW to pursue social work. 

A little introspection...

To me, being successful means...
Being happy.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
As a teenager, success used to mean attending college and having a great career.

My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Working in the social work field with foster youth and helping older youth find adoptive placements. I have learned so much about the struggles and joys of family, building relationships and empowerment.

My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
My biggest regret was being so concerned about what other people thought of me. I learned to always be myself! 

An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
I got an internship in graduate school that worked with prospective adoptive parents who were looking to adopt from foster care...I went into social work to travel and work in international adoptions. This unexpected opportunity put me in this amazing career of recruiting adoptive homes for teens in foster care. That one internship changed my career's projection and I am so thankful.

My favorite spot in or around Palo Alto

Gunn Gym