Thomas J. Kilcullen Memorial Scholarship

Social work is a career path that is built on fostering mutual liberation with individuals and communities. Social workers are meant to tune their ears against blocks and neighborhoods, as we listen to the stories of advocacy and progress. When I receive my MSW degree, I intend to do the very same, as I strive to continue the community work I have always done. I have been working with a community church for over 7 years, where I assist youth within the Bronx community and partner with other community-based organizations to provide resources to the Co-op City area and beyond. The biggest part of my volunteer work with Circle of Christ Church is working with youth between the ages of 12-18 by providing mentorship, emotional and mental health support, and interpersonal guidance. I am also a key member of a homeless care initiative that we’ve begun to execute, where we provide loving conversation, food, clothing, and personal care items to under-served populations in the Bronx. When I receive my degree, I intend to provide better resources and methods of expertise to members of the communities I serve. I will use my professional voice to support movements of economic equity, racial justice, and community development. Moreover, the mental health crisis we are noticing among youth today is a social issue that I feel is a pressing problem. If there is a population I’d like to assist and help, it would be young people. Instances of suicide, anxiety, depression, and other forms of psychological distress seem to have become commonplace in the lives of many. Due to my volunteer work in mentoring youth within the Bronx community, I see how these mental health issues interfere with their quality of life. Given how widespread this is, I plan to alleviate its effects by providing forms of counseling, therapy, group intervention, and resource allocation. As I mature in my career, I seek to incorporate art and music into my rehabilitative practices with families and groups, as I believe it can be an effective coping mechanism and vehicle for constructive conversation, dialogue, and healing for struggling individuals and families. To sum up my goals and intentions in a short phrase, I would like to combine my passions of community work, art, music, and advocacy to help the local families in my area. My desire is to grow as a community leader, one that strongly leads to serving and providing a space of healing for others on a multifaceted level. I feel that helping others through advocacy, counseling, and art is my life’s calling, as nothing comes close to how grateful I feel when I help others reach their full potential.

There are so many children who do not have the opportunities that are presented to other children which may cause them to perceive life in a manner that is, in a sense, hopeless. With my anticipated Criminal justice degree, I intend to assist members of the community in understanding that mistakes are made and we can learn from them, but do not continue making the same mistakes. I personally understand the feeling of hopelessness and defeat, since at the age of 13, due to my severe eczema, all of my hair fell out. Being in high school and having this happen made me feel as if there is no hope and has scarred my self esteem. Eczema has played a huge role in my life since it has been an obstacle and deterrent when trying to succeed. Over the years, I have helped others with similar conditions by having discussions and offering hope. Even though my eczema is not considered a "mistake", it is still the same type of feeling of defeat and hopelessness. If I can assist those community members that have a feeling like there is no hope and change their mindset to believe in themselves and trust their inner beliefs and work towards a solution to increase their productivity.