Focus your attention on your own experiences centered around the factors of race, class, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and age, particularly during your growing-up years and the years preceding your arrival at the Mandel School.
Describe a situation (or situations) in which you were either discriminated against or in which you recall being the discriminator. (If you do not have a personal story about discrimination or oppression, share a story about someone you know.) Reflect on an experience you had as a young adult (16+). Use the following to frame the story or stories about discrimination or oppression: In your own words, define oppression. Describe the relevant experience(s); include the emotional as well as the intellectual facts of the situation(s). Discuss your interpretation and responses to the event(s). o If applicable, discuss how these experiences have shaped your willingness to be an advocate for change.
2. Your Experiences With Privilege
Describe a situation (or situations) in which you have experienced privilege, advantage, or favor in a situation not based on your own merit, but due to membership in a particular social group. Reflect on an experience you had as a young adult (16+). Use the following to frame the story or stories about privilege. In your own words, define privilege. Tell the story of your experience. Discuss your interpretation and response to the event. Discuss why it is important for social workers to understand privilege.
3. Your Experiences With Values In your own words, define values. What are your experiences with your personal values? What are core personal values that guide your behavior and choices? In what areas do you think your personal values might conflict with social work professional values? How have you managed values conflicts in the past?
4. Moving From Personal to Professional As you begin to enter the social work profession, reflect on how your prior experiences shaped you, and how you think they will impact you as you move forward. Where do you feel congruence between what you bring and where you need to go? What areas will provide the greatest challenges for you? What kinds of supports will you need?
