“It's important for the general population to know what social workers do,” says Lamiyah Mackins, a Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) social work student. She wants to stop the stigma around social workers. Social workers aid vulnerable populations, guiding them towards the help they need and giving them access to resources they didn’t know were out there.
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The SEMO Social Work program is boosting Lamiyah towards her dream of giving back to her community, reminding her in every way possible that at school, she has people ready for her to fall back on.
Faculty that shows up for their students
Lamiyah has never felt more solidarity than she does in the SEMO Social Work program; her professor’s support and guidance have changed her world view. Creating a space that fosters a sense of belonging is what inspired Lamiyah’s passion for social work, and during each class her professors set a prime example of who she wants to be in the workforce.
Professor Kathie Miller’s caring nature and eagerness to lend an ear has made a profound impact on Lamiyah’s journey at SEMO. “I was sitting in the hallway, and Mrs. Miller asked me three words. How is Lamiyah? That may seem like something small, but that meant a lot to me because I don't get asked that often. I'm normally the one that's asking others how they're doing. I’m always the strong one; I don’t get to show my feelings and emotions. When she asked me that, I almost broke down and started crying. I opened up to her about my feeling of exhaustion. Her just listening meant so much me.”
Education shaping aspirations
The learning and social work career opportunities Lamiyah is receiving through SEMO are providing the foundation for her future successes. Along with her responsibilities as a student, Lamiyah also has three jobs. She is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), an instructor at The Behavior Consultant and an in-home support worker.
“I have grown so much from my jobs. These opportunities have made me prepared,” Lamiyah says. She received her CNA license in high school and secured her other jobs through connections she made at SEMO. “My professor recommended me for a job with a family she knows, then all of them lined up.”
Lamiyah wants to work with troubled youth and open a community center after she gets her master's degree in social work. “I was the parent for my siblings. I missed out on a childhood, and I don't want that for other children.”
“I feel confident in my training to go out into the world and make a positive impact,” says Lamiyah when asked about her social work curriculum. At SEMO, we take pride in faculty expertise. All the professors in the SEMO Social Work program have their social work licenses and have work professionally in the community. They are ready to pass on their insight and knowledge to guide the next generation of social workers.
If you feel inspired by Lamiyah’s journey and want to explore a career in social work, Southeast Missouri State University’s BSW program is a great fit for anyone who wants an experienced-driven education with caring faculty at an affordable price.