I am a young woman from Tokyo, who has lived in Michigan for the last 13 years, after having lived and studied in Japan for four years, with one in Brazil and five in Texas. I am writing this letter on behalf of my application to the MSW. Women's Studies Dual Degree Program at XXXX University. I have been around the block since I was twenty-three and very much like learning and exploring new things.
I graduated from the University of XXXX in April of 2007 with my first dual degree, my B.A. in Psychology in addition to Women's Studies. Being a woman is foremost in my life, and I think women's issues should stand at the center of social work reform and direct how this should transpire, along theoretical and political lines that are favorable to women and children. I look forward to becoming ever-more creative in contributing to the debate from a womanist perspective. My first choice for graduate study, therefore, is XXXX University MSWÂ & MA in Women's Studies Dual Degree Program. I am most interested in social issues and social work in the context of gender and ethnicity.
I believe that our society is oppressive to people that are not white, male, hetero, and rich and I want to spend my professional life struggling against this oppression as a social work professional who takes it upon herself to care for the weaker members of society who have little power and little voice, inspiring and empowering them to assert their rights and to protect and advance their interests. My long term goal is to someday create my own non-profit organization for men and women of all ethnic backgrounds and experiences can join, feel safe and appreciated, and in time help them to learn the kinds of modern day survival skills that can enhance their quality of life and the inner strength especially women of color, who have historically had less access to economic power than men.
I want to become a professional therapist with excellent preparation in the core materials, theories, and methodologies in this field. I have always wanted to belong to a field that embraced women and believed that assisting them in bringing new life into this world would be one of the most satisfying jobs I could be involved with. Although my passion for saving lives and assisting clients has not diminished, it gradually became apparent that I was not suited for a career as a nurse. While I have the greatest respect and admiration for people who choose to devote their lives as nurses, I came to the realization that working in a hospital setting would be too impersonal for my disposition and gifts, and I am now convinced that the more in-depth psychological interaction that characterizes the social work experience is a better fit for my personality and individual gifts.
This is why I transferred out of the nursing program after a year and a half of college and ventured into the realm of psychology and women's studies. The more educated I became about issues surrounding discrimination, such as sexism, racism, homophobia, etc., the more involved I became in these issues and the greater my desire became to contribute to these areas. At this point, I discovered the Social Work option, as way to harness my abilities to the professional goals of supporting women and serving as an ally in the struggle for progressive social change, therapeutic recovery, and the healing that can result from counseling.
I have been active for the last couple of years with a variety of social organizations that address my concerns, in the pursuit of my dream, including Safehouse, SAPAC, and the XXXX Office. My central goal in life is to help others and to make this world a better place for future generations. I passionately believe that participating in this struggle is the best way to live, and that it makes life enormously rewarding. I want to touch the lives of people in need daily. Whether that involves smiling at a stranger on the street or having a deep and intimate conversation with a friend recovering from an abusive relationship, I will always aspire to have a positive influence on the lives of people around me. I want to have the privilege of reaching out to women who are struggling to survive the trauma of a sexual assault.
I want to be able to reach out to a man that has been taunted by others because of his sexual orientation. I want to reach out to children who are underprivileged and are starving for love and affection. And, because of my education in psychology and women's studies, along with my involvement with numerous organizations throughout the community, I am a strong applicant for your MSW program, especially because of my great determination to make my goal a reality. I strongly believe that the dual degree program in Social Work and Women's Studies at XXXX University is the best place for me to prepare myself for reaching my professional goals and I want to thank you for your consideration of my application.
MSW & Women's Studies Dual Degree Purpose Statement