Opportunity Galore

One thing is for sure; as a MSW graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, you can never say/ask "where are the opportunities"? As the week has progressed, I am amazed at the number of scholarships, training programs (free of charge), workshops, and lecture sessions that are available to enhance oneself. Furthermore, I am delighted to know that the School of Social Work has taken an active role in engaging students on the concept of being a leader within the profession. On yesterday, I attended a discussion/presentation at the school given by DSS Director, Joe Rayomnd. Joe discussed the essentials of leadership and performance management (knowing what we want to achieve within an organization (outcomes) and striving to make that happen). As a dual degree student with the School of Government (MPA) a lot of things mentioned during Joe's presentation resonated well with me. Future practitioners within social work must come to truly understand that helping organizations and the services that we seek to provide are only going to be as good as the leadership within them. Personally, it is my belief that an organization with a great mission and a leader with no vision is doomed. With that being said, know that the MSW program at UNC is a wonderful place to be "if" you really aspire to be a world changer on all levels!

Cold Outside, But Warm Inside

A new semester has begun and after less than 2 weeks of class the ground in Chapel Hill, N.C. has turned completely white. Yeesssss!.....It snowed yesterday; a rare happening in the central part of the Tarheel State. In sum, I must say it is extremely cold outside, but warm inside. Warm not only inside the walls of the School of Social Work at UNC, but warm within my heart and soul. As I embark upon a new semester I realize that I am much closer to acquiring a MSW than I was two months ago. I feel warm inside because last semester was extremely strenuous as a dual degree candidate, but I somehow made it to Spring 09. I am warm inside because I will have the opportunity this summer to engage in a 10-week internship that will be life altering for me, as well as children and families that I encounter later in life. I am warm inside because of the historic moment that our nation and nations around the world were able to witness on yesterday, 1/20/09. It is my pleasure to let the world know that although it is cold outside, I am warm inside and optimistic about life as a graduate student at UNC. Go HEELS!!

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!