"I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
~Edward Everett Hale
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
~Edward Everett Hale
Hello and welcome to my Capstone Portfolio. I will introduce myself, I am a 45-year-old woman born and raised in Mexico, I first came to the U.S. at 21 years old. I spent over 20 years working in retail and food service; it was a means to pay the bills, but I was not getting any fulfillment out of any of my jobs. I decided to obtain my GED certificate hoping to become a certified Spanish medical interpreter, and after I had received my certification, I was determined to see how far I could go academically. I had amazing instructors at Everett Community College, and my counselor suggested for me to take the Intro class for Human Services. I decided to apply to Western Washington University after receiving my AA degree, and I am about to be the first person in my family to receive a BA. Being back in school after 25 years has changed my perspective on the world. Throughout these five years, I have discovered a calling to empower people who want to help themselves. I have many things left to learn, and I am amazed at the opportunities that open before me. I want to thank my mother for being my number one supporter and for having given me the gift of English as a second language, without that, I would not be here right now. I want to thank my husband for cheering me on and believing in me. My family and friends have my gratitude for understanding my desire to learn and for their unconditional love. This portfolio marks the beginning of another exciting chapter in my life and I am proud and delighted to share it with you.
_Statement of Purpose
This fall I will be entering the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Washington, and I will be completing the Multigenerational Practice Concentration. My primary focus will be on Gerontology and elders with cognitive impairment. I want to learn everything I can in order to provide counseling to families caring for elders with dementia or other instances of cognitive impairment. It is very important for me to be able to provide education and work to destigmatize diseases such as dementia and cognitive impairment within the Hispanic population. One of my goals is to continue to work with the Alzheimer's Association facilitating Spanish spoken support groups for caregivers of persons with dementia. Something that is truly satisfying is the fact that I can help English speakers and at the same time highlight the needs of the Hispanic population while helping to develop cultural and language specific programs.
Philosophy of Helping
Throughout this incredible journey, I have learned a lot about myself. As far back as I can remember my family has helped others, and I grew up seeing my mother and siblings advocating on behalf of those in need. In my family, I was taught to honor and fulfill the needs of elders first, I have enjoyed being around older people and learning from them. In my culture, a family takes care of their own, loving them and supporting them until the end. I want other people to be able to honor and care for their elders by promoting education and understanding of the issues we face as we age. I believe this is the ultimate gift anyone can give, caring for elders as they have cared for us. Helping others help themselves is effective because it teaches the other person how to do it by encouraging them to use their strengths while giving them confidence and support and the result is empowering and satisfying.
_Statement of Purpose
This fall I will be entering the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Washington, and I will be completing the Multigenerational Practice Concentration. My primary focus will be on Gerontology and elders with cognitive impairment. I want to learn everything I can in order to provide counseling to families caring for elders with dementia or other instances of cognitive impairment. It is very important for me to be able to provide education and work to destigmatize diseases such as dementia and cognitive impairment within the Hispanic population. One of my goals is to continue to work with the Alzheimer's Association facilitating Spanish spoken support groups for caregivers of persons with dementia. Something that is truly satisfying is the fact that I can help English speakers and at the same time highlight the needs of the Hispanic population while helping to develop cultural and language specific programs.
Philosophy of Helping
Throughout this incredible journey, I have learned a lot about myself. As far back as I can remember my family has helped others, and I grew up seeing my mother and siblings advocating on behalf of those in need. In my family, I was taught to honor and fulfill the needs of elders first, I have enjoyed being around older people and learning from them. In my culture, a family takes care of their own, loving them and supporting them until the end. I want other people to be able to honor and care for their elders by promoting education and understanding of the issues we face as we age. I believe this is the ultimate gift anyone can give, caring for elders as they have cared for us. Helping others help themselves is effective because it teaches the other person how to do it by encouraging them to use their strengths while giving them confidence and support and the result is empowering and satisfying.