I’ve wanted to be a social worker from the moment I learned what being a social worker truly means. Moreover, I realized that I am a social worker—it’s an integral part of who I am and my soul’s purpose. The values, goals, and mission of social work align so neatly with my convictions, beliefs, and passions—and the work I’ve always felt called to engage in. I’ll graduate with my BSW in May 2026, then go to grad school to earn my MSW and eventually LCSW. I’ve had so many unique experiences throughout my life that have prepared me for this path and led me to where I am now. The difficulties I’ve overcome have also solidified my passion for embodying these values in my everyday life. As a mother to special needs kiddos on the Autism spectrum, I have faced many challenges in trying to connect my children with the education and resources they need. Yet, my determination and dedication to my children led me on a very unexpected path—one which has taught me so many invaluable life lessons. These challenges also pushed me to think outside of the box, be willing to try new things, and explore different possibilities and avenues to teach and provide for my children. My background has been crucial in the development of my unique expertise and skill set that includes: leadership, empathy, moral fortitude, service/volunteer work, knowledge of many different disciplines, and an undeniable passion for the pursuit of social justice (for every individual)—with particular attention to marginalized groups. The trials I’ve overcome have taught me how to patiently grow and cultivate my light—and the joy that comes from shining this light and spreading it to those around me. My experiences have deepened my ability to foster empathy for people no matter their background—and I have come to know that even just one person can make a positive difference in this world. This degree in social work, this social work profession—it means so much more to me than just a job; it is embedded in the very aspects of my being and very much a part of who I am, and who I want to be. Everywhere I look in the world around me, I see social injustices and inequalities that perpetuate cycles of helplessness and poverty, I see people in dire need of help and support from their communities, and I see endless opportunities for me to do my part in making our world a better, more equitable place. I am dedicated to using my education to advance the goals and values of social work and help my community. As a social worker, I hope to make a positive difference in the world and in the lives of those who need it the most.

My middle child had significant developmental delays throughout his early to middle childhood—and we faced many challenges as a result of this. During the years of Eli’s early childhood, I had a friend with a son also on the Autism spectrum, and she told me about this woman who had written a book—I don’t recall the name of the book or the author, but the premise was essentially that her role as a mama to an Autistic child was not just to teach him about the world, but also to teach the world about him. Essentially meaning it is our job to advocate to make spaces for autistic people in this world—they belong here every bit as much as anyone else does—and they are just as beautiful and valued as any other human on this planet. I often express the sentiment that Eli opened my eyes to another world that I had been previously blinded to—and that this world was beautiful. Along with the beauty this world brought into my life, there also came many difficulties. These difficulties have brought me to my knees on more than one occasion; constantly searching for any answers that would help my son—and more importantly, to help me understand my son and what he needed from me. This was especially difficult when I couldn’t figure out what he was trying to communicate to me—and there were many times I felt as though I was failing him. He was non-verbal until he was 6-years-old—and the first time he asked me for a “drink of milk”, I broke down into tears and hugged him. My journey as Eli’s mom has lead me to so many moments in my life that I never would have even dreamed of before. My love for him has inspired me to engage in advocacy and activism, not only on his behalf, but on behalf of all Autistic and neurodivergent individuals. I’ve worked as a mentor to at-risk youth on the Autism spectrum at residential treatment facilities, I spent years working at Up to 3 Early Intervention—the same program Eli received services from as a toddler. My experiences as his mom fostered skills which allowed me to recognize early signs of Autism in many other children—and I’ve connected their families with resources to help and support their Autistic kiddos. My journey as Eli's mom also led me discover my own neurodivergence, and I am still learning many new things about myself, after receiving a late diagnosis. Being Eli’s mom is also what led me to go back to school to obtain a degree in social work. I’m currently working on my BSW and plan to pursue an MSW after I graduate USU in 2026. Over the years, the people who have inspired and encouraged me the most were social workers. It was a social worker who led me to much needed resources for my child, who was experiencing extreme developmental delays—later to be diagnosed as Autistic. It was a social worker who sat with me and my children during monthly visits, providing us with monthly developmental education and emotional support. It was a social worker who encouraged me to continue my education when I was ready. The people who were there in the trenches with me during my darkest and most vulnerable moments were social workers.

My child had significant developmental delays throughout his childhood—and we faced many challenges as a result of this. During the years of Eli’s early childhood, I had a friend with a son also on the Autism spectrum, and she told me about this woman who had written a book—I don’t recall the title or the author, but the premise was essentially that her role as a mama to an Autistic child was not just to teach him about the world, but also to teach the world about him. Essentially meaning it is our job to advocate to make spaces for autistic people in this world—they belong here every bit as much as anyone else does—and they are just as beautiful and valued as any other human on this planet. I often express the sentiment that Eli opened my eyes to another world that I had been previously blinded to—and that this world was beautiful. Along with the beauty this world brought into my life, there also came many difficulties. These difficulties have brought me to my knees on more than one occasion; constantly searching for any answers that would help my son—and more importantly, to help me understand my son and what he needed from me. This was especially difficult when I couldn’t figure out what he was trying to communicate to me—and there were many times I felt as though I was failing him. He was non-verbal until he was 6-years-old—and the first time he asked me for a “drink of milk”, I broke down into tears and hugged him. My journey as Eli’s mom has lead me to so many moments in my life that I never would have even dreamed of before. My love for him has inspired me to engage in advocacy and activism, not only on his behalf, but on behalf of all Autistic and neurodivergent individuals. I’ve worked as a mentor to at-risk youth on the Autism spectrum at residential treatment facilities, I spent years working at Up to 3 Early Intervention—the same program Eli received services from as a toddler. My experiences as his mom fostered skills which allowed me to recognize early signs of Autism in many other children—and I’ve connected their families with resources to help and support their Autistic kiddos. Being Eli’s mom is also what led me to go back to school to obtain a degree in social work. Over the years, the people who have inspired and encouraged me the most were social workers. The people who were there in the trenches with me during my darkest and most vulnerable moments were social workers, and I hope that I am able to pay it forward. During the years I spent working at the Up to 3 Early Intervention program at Utah State University, I was able to work with many families with children who had a variety of disabilities and developmental delays. One of the key themes in the work of that program was that the family is central to a child's development. As such, a major role that early intervention programs should play is in supporting the family as a whole, while also working with the child on goals that are individualized and catered to the child's specific needs, as well as the desires and needs of the family. In working with children disabilities, I believe that it is crucial to take a collaborative approach throughout every stage of work and engagement. Every child is different, and it's essential for those in the helping professions to meet the child where they're at.