Hello Everyone, My name is Keisha Roderique and I am a Human Service Major. I am 21 years old and currently enrolled in the Bachelors program. Upon my completion of my Bachelors, I plan on continueing on to my Masters.
When I graduate I want to pursue a career as a Case Worker and then maybe go for a third degree in Psychology. Psychology has always been an area of interest for me, so it is definitely something I would like to have a little background in.
JUST A BRIEF INSIGHT ON WHO I AM AND WHAT MY PASSION IS…
My name is Keisha Roderique and I am 21 years old. I was born in Trinidad and Tobago on September 7, 1991. I am the 2nd child and 2nd daughter of Michele Roderique. After my younger sister was born, my family and I moved to the US, Brooklyn, New York. At this time I was only 5, but whenever I was asked what I wanted to be when I got older I would say a Police Officer. Over the years that answer has changed to a Therapist, a Teacher and then I settled on a Psychologist. In my first year of attending City Tech, I found that even though I had decided on a major I still felt unsure, so I took a semester off to gather myself and figure out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life.
After a few weeks of still being undecided, I contacted a High School counselor of mine whom I refer to as Ms. G. She arranged to meet with me that next day and I was thrilled. The next day I explained to her in detail what my dilemma was. I did not want to major in something that I would not be satisfied with for the rest of my life. I told her how much I admired her and how much of a difference she has made in my life. At that point, she stopped and looked at me. She said, “If you had one chance to change one thing in this world, what would it be?” Without hesitation, I responded, “I would try to make a difference in the lives of children that are abused and molested every day.” Ms. G smiled at me and said, “There it is.” At first I was kind of confused but that’s when it hit me. I would be happy knowing that I have made a difference in a child’s life. I would be content waking up early every morning to go into work as a social worker or a case worker because I would be changing the lives of innocent children.
After my meeting with Ms. G, I found myself thinking a lot about why that career path was so important to me. Everything I could think about seemed to be linked into my decision. Growing up I lived in a 2 family house. Although my house was very joyful and full of excitement, my older cousin that lived upstairs with her family didn’t get the chance to have the same experience as I did. Every day she was beaten and told how much of a mistake she was. At the age of 15 she was sent away to and all girls home. I hated the way she was treated and I secretly resented my aunt for putting her through such an ordeal. This added to the various stories on the news about children being beaten to death, locked in closets and basements in their own feces, raped by their own family members…etc. The list could go on and on, but these were all things that I knew I wanted to put an end to one child at a time.
I believe children/teenagers can teach us a lot. We just have to be willing to listen; after all, these children are our future. I look at my future clients as I would my own child. He has taught me patients and a love that I never knew existed. It is that love that every child has to offer. Children to me are the strongest human beings. They can endure so much but sill wake up every morning jolly and still continue their life with hope. Yes we as adults can do that too (some of us) but we are older and have more experience and understanding. Children don’t have that but they have something else, I don’t know what it is but it amazes me every day.
Five years from now I have hopes that I can look in the mirror and feel accomplished either because I have already started my career or because I am very close to it. My passion for becoming a Social Worker has increased tremendously since I became a mother myself. I was every child to have the same childhood experience that I try so hard to give my son, filled with laughter, discipline and love. I don’t view this career path as a job because to me that is not what it is. Helping children and/or teens is my life’s passion and I am excited to embark on this journey.
