My name is Rachel Keller and I am pursuing a Masters in Social Work. Anxiety is something that impacts every individual. The way anxiety manifests is different for everyone though. Throughout my career in. pursuing a degree I have had anxiety. This anxiety can show anywhere from being nervous about a paper I just turned in to having anxiety in my daily tasks. I never let these anxieties stop me in my dreams and goals. I am passionate about pursuing a college degree. My passion for getting a higher education started in high school. When I took a psychology class, I realized my desire to help others. After high school, I started attending a community college and got my associate's degree. After getting my A.S. degree, I decided to go to George Mason University and majored in psychology. Even getting my A.S. and B.S. was nerve-racking. I remember studying for certain tests and having anxiety because I was not sure if I was studying correctly. I never let this stop me from continuing my education. After I got my B.S. in psychology, I decided to pursue graduate school. It took me a few years to get into graduate school due to COVID-19 and having to tone up my skills. I did not let COVID and toning up my skills stop me. In the gap years I had, I started volunteering for a nonprofit and was passionate about the work I was doing/ am still doing today. While applying to graduate school, I changed my area of focus. I realized that I belong in the social work field. When I started working for the non-profit I work for, I realized that was my passion. I want to make a difference. I want to help people on a micro or macro level. My main goal is to help victims. At my full-time job, I help victims of sexual assault. This is why I have chosen to get a Master's Degree in Social Work. The population of interest would be children and or young adults who are facing many challenges. I feel that these people struggle the most and deserve to have a better childhood. Overall, my main goal is to become a victim advocate or a traveling social worker. I will graduate in December of 2025 and cannot wait to see where my career takes me. Even though anxiety has impacted me, I have never let it take me from my dreams and goals.

Throughout my life, I have always wanted to help people. My urge to help others started in high school when I took a psychology class. When I attended undergraduate school, I decided to major in psychology. I majored in psychology for both my associate's degree and my bachelor's degree. While applying to graduate school, I changed my area of focus. I realized that I belong in the social work field. I started volunteering for a nonprofit and was passionate about the work I was doing/ am still doing today. This is why I have chosen to get a Master's Degree in Social Work. I want to make a difference. I want to help people on a micro or macro level. My main goal is to help victims. At my full-time job, I help victims of sexual assault. The population of interest would be children and or young adults who are facing many challenges. I feel that these people struggle the most and deserve to have a better childhood. Overall, my main goal is to become a victim advocate or a traveling social worker. I graduate in December of 2025 and cannot wait to see where my career takes me.