Zoe Scholes

Personal Statement
Wayne State University

Intro
To me, social work is an important industry revolving around social justice and
advocacy. While I originally majored in and fulfilled a minor in psychology, I have
always found interest in mental health and helping those people experiencing hardships to
help them grow and flourish in their own individual ways. With my own history in
therapy, substance abuse, and mental health; as well as being the daughter of divorced
parents with one being a recovering alcoholic and the other a now homeless alcoholic, I
had no choice but to grow up faster than I had planned. While studying mental health and
substance abuse issues, I have found self-awareness and strength in those experiences of
my own childhood. The values and morals I have gained from these experiences reflect
directly upon the field of Social Work ethics and values. I plan to use these values and
experiences to build upon a community where I may advocate for social justice and
human services.
Academics
While going through my own hardships through high school, no one in my family
believed that I would graduate high school. For a while I believed them and I went to
community college and explored every course plan possible. I took classes such as music,
film, art, and physical education, hoping to find my calling and withdrew from the bulk
of these classes. When I decided to go into psychology I finished my associate degree and
transferred to Wayne State University. Finally, with enough classes to obtain my minor in
psychology, I could have sooner obtained my bachelors degree in psychology if I had not
made the decision to join the Wayne State School of Social Work. I made the decision to
join the program confidently as the program aligns strongly with my desires for a career

as it centers on the person and their environment and serves as a community fighting for
social and economic justice.
Ethics
One ethic I find myself most often discussing with colleagues and classmates is
about cultural competence and social diversity. What I find important is to continue
building a knowledge base of how the values and practices of other cultures and religions
differ from my own, as well as to celebrate those differences. This ties together with
respecting the dignity and worth of a person, where I find it important to understand that
each individual has a unique background and surrounding of systems that has put them in
their current place. This also encompasses the self-determination of my clients. In my
field placement, there have been comments about a client who could not possibly be
homeless if their nails and hair are done. This has bothered me because that client has
their own determination for how they are spending the small amount of money they do
make, even if it is not enough buy them an apartment. The client has the right to
determine what success means to them. So as a social worker, my job is not to judge
someone for their lifestyle, but to help direct them on whatever path they themselves find
successful.
The Change
My mind consistently wonders back to the bigger picture with every issue I come
across. When discussing mental health in psychology, I would always raise questions to
why the system had gaps in places where people werent getting helped appropriately. I
was enthralled with the history of mental health stigmatization, and how it continues to
be stigmatized today. My policy paper for my first year in the Social Work program

discussed this, and I continue to think about ways I would use my skills in this program
to help create a better path for the mental health industry. I see social work as a way to
empower these populations who deserve more support than they are given, and I see this
opportunity to create a space where voices can be heard and work for the betterment of
society.
Strengths and Challenges
I find that my personality immediately took me in this direction as a person who
typically is not afraid of speaking up and discussing an issue that might make other
people uncomfortable such as race, sexuality, gender, and body positivity. I also have
naturally fallen into leadership roles at work, in groups of friends, and with classmates
and colleagues in my field placement. I plan to use this trait of mine to become a leader
in the Social work community, and to make changes in social and economic justice. I
plan to help people overcome obstacles and difficulties and live their lives in success both
emotionally and financially. When faced with challenges, I can only see one way and that
is up. When giving labor and I wanted to give up, my birth nurse told me that I would just
have to stay pregnant if I did that. That is the type of encouragement I want to give to my
clients. If someone feels like giving up, I want to show them their options and imagine a
place where they can go next if they keep trying to succeed.
Balance for Success
Over the past two years, since entering the Social Work program at Wayne State, I
have worked harder than I ever thought I would. I finally have found my calling and will
stop at nothing to fulfill the obstacles that lie ahead. I have had the option to give up on

school and work to stay at home and raise a family, yet I can only imagine my life feeling
complete if I were working in this field and raising my voice for those who need it.
Conclusion
I want to help children and youth who are in a position where I had once found
myself. Dealing with mental health issues, parents that are addicts or alcoholics, or living
in tough financial situations. I want to help these youth persevere and find the strength
and resilience to live on successfully. All I have ever known is to want to help others, and
to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate is the only way I can see myself
living life fully. Through my own hardships I feel I have gained both strength and
resilience. I have learned to have humility, be sincere, open-minded, and respectful of
others, and I would like to use these traits to help others fulfill their own dreams and find
their own happiness in life.