At 15, I began my fight against chronic illness. At 18 I found myself trapped in an abusive relationship. There were many people who helped save my life, but the individual who started it all was my therapist- a social worker. I've had dreams of helping people since I was 5, but finding a career path that felt right was ominous. It wasn't until I sat down one-on-one that I realized social work was not just my future profession, it was my purpose. I met my first social worker my junior year of high school, but it wasn't for another year to come that I truly understood the inner workings that come with the title of social work. Seeing first hand how one person could completely change a person's life created a spark inside my chest that I didn't know could be ignited. As I've grown up, I've become a person I'm proud to be. While I'm not a perfect example of characteristics a social worker should have, I do pride myself in the knowledge that I am a soft hearted individual with enough life experiences that set me up for success in my career path. I was raised being told by my mom that empathy is not something you're born with, it's something you're taught, and while that may be true, I don't remember a time when my heart was not full of empathy, even for those who arguably “do not deserve it”. Social workers are so much more than what I was taught as a child. Social workers are individuals with a mass amount of emotional strength and softness. Social workers stand alongside people in the hardest, most vulnerable times. But within hardship, there is purpose. Nobody wants to go through emotional trauma, but traumatic experiences can lead to greater emotional intelligence and empathy towards others. My own experiences- specifically over the last 4 years- have reshaped how I see the world and the people in it. I know that if you asked me 11 months ago what my thoughts were on women who stay in toxic relationships, I would have said that I don't understand why they don't simply leave because I would never let a man treat me like that. But now that I have lived through it personally, I understand the complexity of the question and how healing and moving on from traumatic experiences is painful and messy- but it also builds understanding. That understanding is something I will carry into every interaction as a social worker. Within the future I hope to be working with individuals who are also navigating through trauma. Whether it's abuse, illness, or other mental challenges, I want to be there to catch each client when they don't feel strong enough to hold themselves up. Social work gives me the opportunity to use my story to empower others, to create real change, and to offer hope where it feels lost.There are many ways to save a life. For me, that way is through social work. I’ve faced and overcome obstacles that once felt impossible. Now, I want to help others do the same. If I can offer someone even a fraction of the support my therapist gave me, then I know I will have made a difference.