Student Profile

Stacey Endres

Graduation Year: 2009

1. When and why did you decide to become a social work major?
    I realized during the second semester of my sophomore year that I wanted to be a social worker.  I was a Psychology/Theology double major and was really hesitant about having to get a PhD to ever practice counseling.  I started researching careers online and discovered the world of social work.  I was amazed at how many different opportunities there were, and they all seemed to match my passions for working with people and working for social justice.
 
 
2. What areas of social work do you see yourself getting a job in after you graduate?
   I love the flexibility provided with social work.  I am interested in so many aspects, I think I'll try out quite a few.  I completed an internship with adoption social workers during my junior year and really loved it.  I'm also interested in hospice social work, international social work, as well as macro social work.  I think I'd like to work in direct service for a while and then work to make changes on a larger scale.
 
 
3. Is it an advantage to be able to be a licensed social worker after graduating from CSB/SJU and also having to only go to school for one year after graduating with asocial work degree to obtain your master's degree?
   Since I know I have many interests in social work, I am glad that I can be a licensed social worker after graduation.  I plan on finding a job and experiencing more kinds of social work before I decided which route to follow with my master's degree.  The fact that graduate school will only last one year is also very important to me.  This makes me positive that I will be able to pursue my master's degree.
 
4. What do you think are the most important qualities a person must have to be a good social worker?
   I think my ability to be patient will be very important to my social work career.  Social workers must be willing to work in systems that work against them.  They must be passionate about the people they serve and respect the dignity of each person they meet.
 
5. What has been your best out of class activity related to social work?
   This summer I was a part of the Jackson Fellowship at St. Bens.  I was fortunate to spend my summer at Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta, MN.  Quiet Oaks was not open yet when I interned there, but I gained invaluable experience seeing the development of a new non-profit, learning how to bring community members together for a common cause, and other skills related to fundraising, communications, and event planning.