Why Social Work?
“Ever since I was young, I’ve been obsessed with superheroes and wanted to be one. I loved how they inspired hope for the individuals they served and how they were always able to have a positive impact on the world despite the many challenges they faced.
Growing up, my own personal superhero was my grandfather, and he happened to be a social worker. My grandfather overcame many challenges throughout his life including losing his leg when he was only 12 years old in a train accident; yet he never let those challenges stop him. My grandfather was the first person in his family to go to college and he paid his own way through both undergraduate and graduate school. My grandfather passed away in 2016, but he is still one of my biggest inspirations to this day. When it was time for me to choose a career, I wanted to do something where I could honor him while having a similar positive impact and I ultimately decided to follow in his footsteps as a social worker. I have been in the field for over two years now and it is clear that this was the right decision for me.”
Hobbies
“I love to travel and just got back from vacation with my girlfriend in Mexico City! I also love being active and playing sports. I am a huge football fan (My favorite team is the Philadelphia Eagles, Go Birds!) and on the weekends I play in a flag football league at Prospect Park. I also used to box competitively in college.”
Accomplishments
“Honestly getting the DOHMH scholarship was a huge accomplishment for me. It’s something that I knew I wanted since I first interviewed with Donika so when I found out I got it, it was a really special moment. My parents were also thrilled, and it was nice to make them proud. I also moved to NYC by myself in 2022 which was challenging at first for a variety of reasons but ultimately one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Hopes for the Future
“I think my main hope for the future is that I continue to develop as a person and grow both spiritually, physically and emotionally. I also feel as if I am walking in my purpose now and it is my hope that I can continue to do so for the rest of my life. On a less abstract level though I hope to finish my MSW program on time so I can continue to progress in my career and get more opportunities to have a positive impact on others.”
On Representation
“Being a black male social worker is huge. While a large number of the individuals we serve are black men, there are comparatively few black male social workers. In my time at BSR I’ve had several clients tell me that in the past they had service providers who did not understand them or the complex situations they experienced which ultimately led to disengagement. Just having a basic fundamental understanding of a client’s experiences can go a long way and strengthen the working relationship making it easier to work towards change.”