MegAnne

thenewestlcsw:

I just completed my very first writing assignment of my MSW studies, a journal entry based on required readings for my Human Rights and Social Justice class.  The topic was Social Justice, my own definition supported by the readings, how I came to that understanding, and my thoughts on the three most essential features of a socially just society.

I had to shake the cobwebs off my writing skills, but fortunately, since this is in journal form, it wasn’t required to be in APA.  That makes it a little bit easier to slide back into writing.  All in all, I feel good about my four pages of thoughts, but I certainly look forward to refining my own understanding of social justice through class and working with professors and peers.

Right now though, I’m glad the paper is sent off to my professor so I can finally eat lunch at 2pm!

thenewestlcsw:

Like any one of my favorite startups, apparently each MSW student, myself included, needs his or her own advisory board. Last week, I met my placement supervisor, Andrea, for the first time in person. Andrea and I had a handful of interviews for my first year field placement via phone when I was back in Indy, but I only just had the pleasure of speaking to her in person last Wednesday. So far, the advisory board is top tier. 

Earlier today, I got to meet Elaine, my clinical supervisor at YAI who is also an LCSW, what I’m hoping one day to become.  Elaine laid out everything she’d like to see me accomplish this year, through process recordings, psycho socials, and of course, my actual interactions with YAI’s consumers. She’s been a pro at all this for years, and I couldn’t feel more confident in her ability to give me an amazing foundation year experience. We’re two for two.

Tomorrow, I have my first integrative seminar, at which time I will meet my faculty advisor, Ken. This fella will be in charge of making sure I’m prepped and ready to meet my clients for the first time next week, and also that I’m getting the most out of my first year placement. 

The jury’s still out on the final member of my advisory board since I haven’t met him, but so far, it’s a solid crew, and I continue to be excited about my foundation year in Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service.

Go team.

thenewestlcsw:

Today marks my one week anniversary back in my favorite city!  It’s been a fabulous week full of catching up with old friends, making many new ones, and rediscovering this island with which I’m oh so in love.

As you know, the first Monday of classes was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene, so my first day of courses took place on Thursday, which includes Human Behavior and the Social Environment I, Generalist Social Work Practice, and Social Work Practice in Research I.  I’m already in love after one short day of courses! My professors seem amazing and engaging, and my classmates, overall, are a treat.  I look forward to getting to know them all more as the semester wears on.

The thing that worries me most is the unbelievably large amount of reading assignments we have.  Since it’s the first week, and since we had Monday off (again!) for Labor Day holidays, I’m making the effort to read all 1000+ pages -seriously- of assigned materials to make sure I’m starting off on a good food. The good news is, a lot of the readings are from different sources but on the same topic, so I feel comfortable skimming definitions and concepts I had previously just read in our course textbook.

I have been assured by those who have gone before me in this crazy world of Social Work graduate school that I’ll figure out which readings are more important than others in which class, and that it won’t seem quite so daunting as the semester progresses and I become more acquainted with each of my professors’ methods.

For now, I just completed the last of my Research reading, so it’s onto Human Rights and Social Justice for Monday. Five separate required reading assignments for this course; wish me luck!

My fella has graciously invited me to accompany him to his alma mater in Oxford for the Alabama game, and I’d love to get the opinions of some SEC ladies as to what would be appropriate for this game, which will take place on October 15th.

I know standard Big Tweleven attire - jeans and a Purdue hoodie of choice - are taboo in Southern football society, so please send your comments, photos, and links to your favorite shopping websites my way! Mucho appreciato!