After working so many years as a general helper I finally took my father’s advice and decided to look for employment in an office setting.  I was referred by a friend for an entry level position, as a life-skills specialist, at Praxis Housing Initiatives.  Working with the homeless population instilled in me hope and perseverance.  Because I was only an entry level worker, I was unable to assist most clients resolve their ambivalence concerning treatment.  This is when I decided that I would further my education to better assist my clients.  The homeless population has many challenges because of its diversity.  I have come across clients with HIV, substance abuse, domestic violence, criminal justice issues, mental health issues, physical disabilities, mental disabilities, and clients from the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.  To serve these clients I needed to become knowledgeable concerning those issues.

Though I have no delusions of grandeur, I feel I can be an effective counselor.  It is on this basis that I have acquired the credentialed alcohol and substance abuse counselor trainee (CASAC-T) certificate.  I would like to continue to work with the homeless population.  Their needs are so diverse that human service providers can spend decades learning how to better assist them and still learn something new the next day.  Their needs may range from housing, to education, employment, mental health, substance abuse, or co-morbidity.  It is because of these many needs that encouraged me to become a human service worker.  A human service provider could be counseling today and maybe tomorrow providing concrete services such as providing referrals for housing, entitlements, or food stamps.  I do not want to be a counselor.  I want to be a counselor, case manager, advocate, or what is more commonly known in the social work field as an “advanced general practitioner.”  That is why I feel the advanced generalist curriculum, at Lehman College, would assist me to gain advanced counseling and management skills.

Upon graduating from NYC Tech, I will embark upon another journey filled with the search for more knowledge in my chosen field as well as a better understanding of who I am.  Education has helped me to become a better person by understanding my past behaviors.  These two dynamics help me to construct better social outcomes through critical thinking and positive behaviors.  I will acquire my full CASAC as well as a graduate degree to better assist my clients as well as educate the human service professional after me.