Dwayna McFerren

Once. I started in animal science and industry because I wanted to be a veterinarian. I switched my junior year to Social Work.

I went to the Academic and Career Information Center and met with a career specialist. She was very helpful in talking to me about various things that I could do to ensure that my major was right for me. I then met with some people in the social work program to find out what it was about. I also talked to some students to see what their experiences were before officially declaring social work.

• Smurthwaite Scholarship/Leadership House
• Black Student Union
• Habitat for Humanity
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Court Appointed Special Advocate

Yes. During your final year of studies in social work, every student is required to complete a practicum to get experience in the field while being supervised by a professional. I worked at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) in the Independent Living Program.

I was lucky. I didn't find a job: the job found me. While I was working at SRS doing my practicum, I did a shadow day at KVC Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. The supervisor there said that she was hiring and offered me a job on the spot. I left that day with a job.

In social work there is no such thing as a typical day. In law school a typical day consists of getting up, going to class, and coming home and spending the rest of the evening reading and preparing for the next class.

In social work, it was interacting with the children and seeing them go home.

In social work it was maintaining strong boundaries and not bringing work home with me.

If social work is your passion, pursue it. Many people don't know that there are a lot of fields open to social workers. There are social workers in government jobs, military jobs, private practice, hospitals, hospices, drug and alcohol clinics, and more. The list is endless!