What am I doing today?
Today, I am about to graduate from Michigan State University with two bachelors degrees: one in arts & humanities and the other in social work. I just accepted my admission to the University of Michigan for my masters in social work, where I'll be completing their community-based initiative program in Detroit. I can honestly say that my study abroad in Costa Rica was the beginning of this journey and finding what I'm meant to do. Here are a few highlights from between the spring of 2017 and today...
I was voted as president of a registered student organization on campus called Activists for Civic Engagement. This group focused on "practicing civic engagement with organizations that share our focus of building a stronger & sustainable community to foster lasting partnerships & connections".
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January 2018; MLK Jr. Day event
For the 2018-2019 school year, I am a part of the HEALS (Healthcare Education and Leadership Scholars) program through the School of Social Work. Myself and 7 other scholars receive inter-professional development opportunities, specialized seminars, and a trip to Washington D.C. to meet other HEALS students and spend time advocating on Capitol Hill.
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March 2019
During the summer of 2018, I was a grants & events intern for Lansing 5:01, a nonprofit that strives to retain and attract young professionals to the Lansing area. It has been an invaluable experience to practice grant-writing, while learning more everyday about the community where I live.
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May 2018; Painting the Rock to
announce our summer events
I am a member of the registered student organization Students for Social Work. During the 2017-2018 school year, the Larry Nassar scandal broke and we wanted to show our support for survivors of sexual assault.
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February 2018; Poster making
for a protest & march
I have been a research assistant to Dr. Anna Maria Santiago of the School of Social Work since August of 2017. I have completed research regarding family dependency treatment courts and the barriers and facilitators to completion of that program, as well as my current research of the housing and neighborhood quality of participants of the Denver Housing Authority's homeownership program.
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June 2018; Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences
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August 2018; Society for the Study
of Social Problems annual conference
And lastly, as always, I am practicing my Spanish. I have been a participant of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities's ILO (Integrated Language Option) program since returning from Costa Rica. It has been a great way to keep up on my skills and continue learning a language I love.
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December 2018; Final project for ILO showcase