When I was a freshman in high school, I was handed a book called "A Child Called It". Which was about a man who was abused by his mother as a child. The book is a series with three books total. The series talks about a man's childhood and how he was failed by his teachers and the social workers. I remember reading this book and how each word filled me with rage for this young boy. Rage, which soon turned into passion. A passion to become a savior to children rather than a failure. Becoming a social worker includes being in many situations with different varieties of families and children. Being in volunteering has helped me realize how some families act toward their children. Seeing how the parents raise their voices at children over a cup of spilled milk. Wondering how their lives at home are and if they need help. It aches my soul to see how some parents treat and act towards their children. I want to help children feel safe in their homes and not dread their days. I also have a backup plan for this field of work as a social worker that helps people with financial issues and gives hope for the future. My father died before I was born, and my mother was eighteen and freshly graduated. So we have always had financial problems. Although we received monthly income from the government, it was never enough to fill the void of a parent gone. My mother did everything she could to ensure that I had everything I needed. Schooling, clothes, food, and a roof over my head. But due to her being eighteen when I was born, she was unable to go to college or apply for a high-paying job. Therefore, financial problems have always been a struggle. Then in my junior year of high school, we were kicked out of her boyfriend's house. He had always been the one to pay most of the rent and groceries. Life had practically restarted, and it wasn't looking good. Through all of our struggles, some worse than others, I have always been supported by my mother. Daily we talk about my future, about how I, myself, can be financially responsible. About my future career and how I want to help people. She has the most beautiful soul, and I strive to use my own struggles to help people in the future. These two factors have led me to this field of work. The book about the young boy who was being abused and failed by Child Protection Services. I want to be a Child Protection Service worker to help others feel safe at home and to not fail young children. But my own financial problems have encouraged me to want to help others who are struggling in life. Either way, I am going to be a helpful unit to society.

My father died in a tragic car accident seven months before I was born. Leaving my mother as an eighteen year old single parent. My mom started dating a few years after his passing. I was getting step-in dads. But as I grew older, I started to notice that older children had fathers that looked like them. But mine didn't, and I couldn't understand it. One year for my birthday, my mom asked me what I wanted, and I said I wanted a dad like everybody else, and it broke her heart. As a child, it didn't affect me as much, because I couldn't understand what was truly going on. I had step-in dads, I had father figures, I was doing alright. Until sixth grade, I started getting bullied for not having a dad. It was purely online, just some kids speaking up and laughing that my dad had passed. I didn't understand what was so funny about it. I tried to laugh it off or just leave the group chats that were made. Eventually, the bullying stopped. But it still affected me how some people out there think that death is funny, especially the death of a parent. Because in reality, it's not funny, they were lucky, I was not. A few years later, I started to understand how much it truly did bother me about not having a dad. But not just any dad, I wanted my dad. I grew up with other step-in dads. Who brought me up, taught me things, raised me. But it wasn't my dad. He had missed everything. Birthdays, Christmas, moments in my life where I needed a dad. Going out to see his family, people told me stories of him. I loved hearing all of them, pretending it didn't truly hurt me. Pretending not to be jealous that they got to meet him before I ever did. Jealousy was a trait I carried with me. My dad had two other kids before me. They got him at birthdays, special events. He got to hold them, tell them he loved them, they got to hear his voice. But I was left missing a voice I would never hear. Holding the hand of a ghost. Looking in the mirror and seeing him in myself. I was jealous and will always be. I learned acceptance. I've accepted that he is gone and I will be left missing him. But most of all, I accept that he is always with me. In my heart, my soul, and most importantly, my face.

My father passed away six months before I was born, leaving my eighteen year old mother to be a single parent. From the start, I lived with my grandparents due to my mom's age and having no money. I lived with my mom and grandparents until I was about four or five, until my mom started dating again and was starting to get her jobs. A few years passed, and we settled down with one of her boyfriends for about eleven years. Then, when I turned fifteen, it all fell apart. They had a falling out and broke up. My mom didn't have a job and we had to go live at my aunt's house. We couldn't afford our own home, as the money she got for child support was for food, clothes, and other necessities. We had to start borrowing money for gas for me to get to school or even small things like toilet paper. We couldn't afford a home for ourselves. Then, senior year comes around. I already knew where I wanted to go; Wright State University. To my surprise, I got in. But the unfortunate part is the cost. I was told by friends and family that FAFSA would help me out a ton, as we don't bring much income in. But, after getting my FAFSA results back, we found out that I couldn't receive any financial aid because my mom couldn't file for her taxes. Which leaves me to apply for as many scholarships as I can to attempt to find the rest of the money for college. Throughout my life, I learned that money goes fast, and actions can affect others. My mom couldn't file her taxes because of how she chose to spend her life years before. Leaving me to figure out how I can pay for college myself. My plan for my future is to figure out finances, how to handle them, file taxes, and save money. I have learned that when I have children, my actions will affect their life more than my own. I will ensure to get a job, but not just a bare minimum job, I will get a well paying job. Not only for me, but for my children. I won't take my college education for granted. If I am awarded scholarships, then I will use them wisely, as I have deserved them. My finances will be a stark contrast to the ones I grew up with. My childhood was rough, and I am determined to ensure my adulthood will not be. Starting now, with my college education.

At the age of thirteen, I picked up a book called "A Child Called 'It", by David Pelzer. This book was about a man who was abused as a young child. In this book, he was abused, neglected, manipulated, and failed by social workers. The social workers in charge of his case saw nothing wrong with David's home life, leaving him stuck with his abuser. Although there was physical and physiological evidence of abuse, the system failed him. When I first read this, I was appalled at how messed up the system was, and swore that someday, I would become a social worker and better the future system. Once I had my heart set on social work, I attended a career technical school called Live Oaks Career Campus. I went to the oaks for Early Childhood Education to put me in an environment with young children and their learning. I spent two hours a day in a preschool environment and an infant environment. Then I applied to Wright State University for social work. Getting in, I already have my site set on the future systems. My plan for the future community is to be a safe haven for children and aware of the children's surroundings. I want to make a system that doesn't give children false hope in surviving. My degree will be to address and help children in toxic households and remove them from the homes. My plan is to exceed those expectations and put the toxic and abusive people behind bars so they can't hurt anyone like that ever again. With that being said, I understand how some children may be afraid to reach out for help, in fear that the abuse will get worse. My hope is that the children will not have to fear what happens to them after, as they will be put into the arms of someone safe. Going into social work, I will help make communities safer, and houses, homes. I will be that person that people recommend to others when in dangerous situations. I will be the person that children will remember saved their lives. Along with children feeling safe, I will feel a warmth in my heart. Knowing that I have changed lives, made communities and homes safer, and put a smile on a child's face. I strive to put others before myself, therefore, this is the future for me, and hope for the world.

When I was about thirteen years old, I read a book called, "A Child Called 'It'", by David Pelzer. It was about a man who was abused as a young boy. The book went on about the abuse he endured, the manipulation his mother caused, and the social workers who could have saved him, but did nothing. As I read this book, it really upset me how a child was forced to live in those conditions, alongside how the social workers had plenty of evidence to remove him from the toxic household, but didn't do anything further for his safety. No child should ever have to go through abuse, or feeling as if there is no hope. I swore to myself to be a social worker and to be the hope for children in the near future. The social working career I plan to pursue is children's services. Children's services are expected to help children who are living in abusive or neglectful homes. Unfortunately, children in need are let down a lot more than one would think. While the world is full of social workers, the world continues to let down children on a daily basis, and I choose to help with the cause. Looking into social working, it has come to my attention that it has a huge impact on your mental health, but I am determined to help out with children in need, and will do anything it takes to ensure that this goal is met. Social workers help the world on a daily basis by saving children from dangerous and toxic households. I will make an impact not only on the world, but to these children personally by ensuring their safety. Not only will these children be put into safer custody, but the people who treated them wrong and inappropriately will be put behind bars, which can also ensure safety for the children's futures, but also for those around them. Additionally, if children's needs and safety are met then I will feel a warmth in my own heart, for knowing how I helped save someone and that they are safe. I have a raw need deep inside my heart, knowing that this is the path I belong to. This is the path I need to take, and the future needs me. It all started with the book I read in my seventh grade year, to which I will pass along to others. Social working has and will always have my heart.