It's Over!

The semester has ended and Christmas is two days away!! What a great feeling.... family, friends, food, and fellowship.....all the wonderful things that bring great eustress after a long semester of writing papers, reading articles, role playing, doing group work, giving presentations, and much more. Although the Winter Break is not officially a break for me, it is a great time to relax mentally and prepare for Spring classes. When you have passion within it's sometimes hard to just chill as the world around you continues to revolve. As a grad student, my winter break has been spent working to pay bills, emailing potential agencies in regard to a summer internship, completing additional coursework from Fall, preparing for spring classes, and working on various projects with my RA position. I guess this is the world of a dual degree candidate; when you're being exposed to two disciplines....it may not appear to be luxurious at the moment, but the hard work and dedication will someday pay off not only for me, but for children and families across N.C. and the nation. So no matter what it may seem like....I'm still living the Good Life of a MSW/MPA dual degree student!!!

New Job: RA Positon @ The School of Social Work

See the email excerpt below regarding my new job at the School of Social Work.....

"We have a new MSW Research Assistant, Chanitta Deloatch. Chanitta is doing a dual degree, MSW/MPA, and attended ECU as an undergrad. She will be with us until the end of Spring Semester".

As the semester draws to a close, new beginnings are starting. On Monday, I was offered a RA position with the N.C. Child Welfare Education Collaborative and have gladly accepted. I am positive that this experience will enhance my professional development and provide me with the opportunity to contribute to current happenings in the social work arena. Several RA positions are offered throughout the School of Social Work and I am elated to be a part of that number. Be on the lookout for future updates regarding my work with the Collaborative.

Mid-Point

Now that Fall Break has come and gone, the fall semester is almost over. Pretty soon Thanksgiving Break will be here and before you know it the semester will be complete. What a joy that will bring! In the meantime, it's very refreshing to know that as a graduate student with the SSW at UNC-Chapel Hill you actually get a fall break. This Fall Break I had the pleasure of getting away to San Franciso, California! (Talking about a vacation much needed) I was able to go wine tasting in the famous Napa Valley and sightseeing at Fisherman's Warf; which included a boat tour up close and personal at the Golden Gate Bridge and Alacatraz. In fact, the most significant thing about my Fall Break was the fact that I didn't do any school work at all. A mental break was definitely in order and as a graduate student that is something that many individuals failed to realize. It's okay to say enough is enough sometimes because at the end of the day your physical and mental health is key! Better to get in the habit of taking care of myself now than waiting until I begin direct practice with children and families.

Faculty Support

If you're wondering how complicated life is as a graduate student. I will be very candid and say that the demands are high, readings are long, lectures are a must, caffeine will become your best friend, and most importantly, faculty support is mandatory. Faculty support at the School of Social Work has made a world of difference in my experience as a graduate student. Being away from one's hometown, family, and close friends is a hard task to overcome in and of itself, but factoring graduate school into the equation makes being away from social supports seemingly unbearable. There are times when the stress of being a student causes me to question whether or not I should continue my studies. It is at these times that the faculty support provided by the professors and staff at UNC are invaluable. Having someone to validate your feelings, offer advice, guide you, and be supportive of your endeavors are all the many reasons why faculty support is mandatory in any graduate level program. Personally, I'm extremely thankful that I chose UNC School of Social Work, an institution that not only prides itself on faculty support but an institution that actually delivers!!

Thanks to the professors and faculty who have impacted my experience!!!
(You know who you are)

Why I Love Social Work Courses

The school year is officially underway and as a dual degree student I must say, social work courses are by far the best. They are practical and packed with useful information unlike other disciplines whose focus is primarily on academia. Sharing practical knowledge and experiences within the classroom is very common. I also love the social work courses at UNC-Chapel Hill because you will never leave a classroom without learning a new theory, principle, concept, or societal intervention. These are the tools that I will ultimately utilize to effect change and create social justice for children and families not only in N.C., but across the nation. Now if that isn't exciting then I don't know what is!

One Month To Go!

As of yesterday, one month remains before 2008-2009 first-year students arrive at the Tate-Turner-Kuralt building (UNC's SSW) to embark upon an educational journey that will last a lifetime. Some individuals may be nervous and some will be excited, but one thing is for sure and that is the fact that UNC-SSW is a welcoming institution where all new and returning students will be embraced with smiles, hugs, and handshakes on Aug. 14.

Now that I'm a second year student I can't believe my first year is complete. The time went by soooo fast, but when I was reading tons of articles a week, completing papers, and attending field it seemed as if the semesters would never end. At this point, I can only trust that the upcoming school year will provide me with as many learning experiences as last year.

Welcome...

If you're Confused, Concerned, or Curious about life as a graduate student at the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill, fret no more.

Have questions? As a UNC-SSW ambassador, I am eager to provide answers and offer assistance as you coontemplate attending one of the TOP Social Work programs in the nation.