MSW Goals
In early 2010 I was putting together my application to SUNY (State University of NY) Albany and their MSW (Master of Social Welfare) program. They needed my transcripts, three references, and a Statement of Background and Goals. The following is one of my drafts for that statement.Draft One
I have practiced Siddha Yoga Meditation for over 15 years. During that time I have come to appreciate that all misery and suffering in the world is truly self created. In that regard, the analytic mind can be an invaluable tool in insuring that the challenges and pain which are an inevitable part of life do not become misery and suffering, though this is not an easy process and requires great diligence and discipline. Indeed, the first step in improving the world is to improve ourselves and, in particular, stop creating misery and suffering for ourselves. How can we help people beyond their superificial external conditions if we regularly create misery and suffering for ourselves? However, while the analytic mind can be invaluable in eliminating the negative emotions from ourselves, it is not sufficient to bring compassion and joy into our lives. For that we need to open our hearts and I have found that a life of service is the best way to open our hearts so that we can experience the natural joy and bliss which is our birthright. While it is certainly possible to practice a life of service as a computer programmer (or any other legal profession that I can imagine) I believe that as I migrate to a lower key lifestyle and eventual retirement, retraining for a career focused on helping others directly seems appropriate at this time. I expect that upon getting my MSW I will seek work in a clinic and earn my LcSW. With that I expect my work at a clinic will gradually be reduced as I develop a private practice as a therapist.Draft Two
This was the version I submitted with my application on Feb 8, 2010, but I had virtually no guidance as to what I should include. It was very short.I have practiced Siddha Yoga Meditation for over 15 years and learned that to have a truly sweet life we need to open our hearts and that a life of service is the best way to open our hearts. While it is certainly possible to practice a life of service as a computer programmer (or any other legal profession that I can imagine) I have found that working with people directly is most fulfilling and, perhaps, helps create a sweeter life. I expect that upon getting my MSW I will seek work in a clinic and earn my LcSW. With that I expect my work at a clinic will gradually be reduced as I develop a private practice as a therapist.
Revised Statement
My application was denied as SUNY Albany School of Social Welfare has been very highly ranked (now 12th out of 200 schools) and with the economy and its troubles there are lots of applicants, 225 slots for about 450 applicants. I also learned that the School for Social Welfare had its own description of what they were looking for in applications, much more complete information than if you start with SUNY Albany, Admissions, .... Doh! After I spoke with the Dean of Admissions at the School of Social Welfare, I updated my statement and submitted the revised goals on June 9, 2010. We will see how this works out.My goals for a Masters of Social Welfare degree are best understood through some of the events which led to my decision to seek this degree. When my youngest son was in the second grade, he asked me to attend an EPIC parenting program as he gave me a flyer from school about a 'Dads Only' seminar which boldly promised 'Spend more time with your kids!' His request was heart touching and I could not bring myself to explain that, as his mother and I were divorced, my time with him was strictly limited by the court ordered schedule and attending the program wouldn't do any good. Instead I attended the program and it was a valuable experience to me. The 'Dads Only' program was an experiment and we wanted to continue, but only one of the two facilitators could continue; I was happy to become a facilitator for the program. As my kids progressed through the schools, I regularly helped facilitate EPIC parenting programs focusing on different stages of parenting, young adolescents and so on. While these programs were, I believe, helpful to the other participants, I found facilitating the programs very rewarding. The reference by Deborah Mungavin describes almost ten years of contributions to the EPIC parenting programs. In the same time frame, I became active in Siddha Yoga, a spiritual tradition which focuses on meditation, chanting, and service. One weekend in 1993 I was helping out at the Children's House which was a kind of day care or day camp for children while their parents took courses at the ashram. I was asked to read the short story Where love is or Martin the Cobbler by Leo Tolstoy and tell it to the children during our house meeting the next day. I was in a low point in my life, in the midst of a bitterly disputed divorce and worried that I might lose contact with my kids and having just broken up with a girlfriend who I had hoped would make my life complete. As I read the story, I saw how I was making myself miserable, that I was surrounded by wonderful people who, while they were not my own children, wife, or parents, they could bring fulfillment to my life; I just needed to appreciate them and treat them as the blessed gifts that they were. A life of service became my focus of my life. A few years later, I heard a talk sharing the personal experiences of a previously incarcerated Siddha Yoga practitioner. He explained how the meditation programs which were offered in the prison were so valuable to him. At the end of his talk, there was a request for volunteers to help put on the programs in prisons. That led me to get the training to lead Siddha Yoga meditation programs in prisons and then to help lead the existing programs in Sing Sing, Fishkill, and Greenhaven prisons, even helping to expand the offerings with more regular programs. It was in that capacity that I worked with Mario Starece, the second reference which is attached. The inmates would often comment on how valuable these programs and the teachings of Siddha Yoga were to them in dealing with the issues they faced in their daily lives, anger and fear issues far beyond those we on the outside face in our normal lives. However, the programs were also greatly rewarding to myself; it was a joy to share their company and help nurture their supportive community, acting again as a facilitator rather than a teacher. I was only able to help lead prison programs in the downstate prisons for a few years before I relocated to Portland, OR in 2003. However, I found other interested Siddha Yoga practitioners and was able to help start regular meditation programs in four Oregon prisons which have continued even after I relocated to the Albany area in 2009. I have located interested Siddha Yoga practitioners in the Albany area, but so far I have not been able convince the administration for the prisons in the Albany area to allow these meditation programs. However, one of the first lessons volunteers in prisons learn is the practice of acceptance. All of the plans we make are subject to change, when we arrive for a program we may learn that the facilities we requested (video or audio player) are not available or there is a lock down and the program will not be permitted. Only by being respectful and flexible can we provide these programs to the inmates. While in downstate NY, I had regularly visited the Siddha Yoga ashram and helped out as part of my practice of service. When I relocated to Portland, OR, I needed to find other opportunities for service. I was able to connect with Habitat for Humanity where I helped out with the builds, of course, but also with their Restore, a fund raising thrift store. For the Restore I would often drive their truck and help pick up donated furniture and other large items. The reference from Jane Strickler describes my contributions in that area. I found that Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful organization which not only helps provide needed housing, but also helps build a sense of community. The feeling that each person matters, is cared about and that their choices are important can do more to improve the quality of life for all participants than just simple housing. As I was focusing my life on service, I knowingly made a series of career choices which decreased my marketability as a computer programmer; trading a lower income for a more fulfilling life. However, with unexpected changes in the economy, e.g. computer programming being outsourced overseas, I was surprised to find myself unemployable as a computer programmer. I am over qualified to be hired as a junior programmer and don't have the required experience for a more senior position (I have the wrong experience). I have come to view this as a wonderful opportunity to retrain for more fulfilling work. When I had taken my first psychology course as an undergraduate, I greatly loved the course and I wanted to shift fields, finally becoming a therapist, but could not justify the switch with my strong background in math, physics and computer science. Now I have the opportunity to fulfill my long held desires. It is my hope to obtain an MSW and then work in a clinic while I earn my license. Specifically, I know that the VA has a great need for social workers and and I expect there will be situations where my experience as a soldier could be helpful. I have chosen the MSW route as it seems most focused on the actual task of working with people and helping them.Click here to see the next rambling tale.
This page was last updated on June 10, 2010