My name is Ashton Sanchez and I'm an FSU MSW online graduate. I am currently a social work intern at the University of Miami in the Pediatric Infectious Medicine Department.

I provide therapeutic services to patients and their families. The clinic specializes in care for babies, children, and adolescents who are HIV positive.

I discuss coping skills and therapeutic techniques to assist patients in processing through their diagnosis.

I also help patients with disclosure and how to keep themselves and others safe. I am presently in my last semester of the online Master of Social Work Program at Florida State University.

I started my undergraduate career at FSU in the summer of 2012. I went into that portion of my life thinking I knew exactly what I wanted to study and do as a career for myself.

I started as a fashion merchandising major, and while I enjoyed the program and classes immensely, I begin to have some doubt. As I continued my classes and studying, I realized that I actually had no idea what I really wanted to do.

As I was processing all of the new information I was getting, I came to understand that what truly made me happy was people, society, and how to improve them both.

 

I have always known that I wanted to give back to the community. Since high school, I have completed countless volunteer hours through non-profit organizations within my hometown Miami, Florida.

However, I had not realized that I could combine my love of volunteering with a career. Through the assistance of my advisors, I navigated my way through several intro courses before taking an Intro to sociology course.

I was captivated by the study of sociology. I decided to pursue an undergrad degree in sociology.

 

I graduated with my undergraduate degree in sociology with a concentration in child development in 2016 from FSU. Two weeks after my undergrad graduation, I began working in a child welfare agency in Miami, Florida.

I worked as a child welfare case manager for a few months before being promoted to a human trafficking specialist. At that time, my caseload switched to adolescents who were in the child welfare system and who were also victims of human trafficking.

I think I had always known what being a social worker was without realizing what it was called or that I could make it my career. As a social worker, you can come into an individual’s life and assess the situation they are currently going through in order to help them.

For that reason, I believe social work tends to get a negative connotation. Social workers tend to come into people’s lives when they are struggling. As a result, I think individuals who are unaware of what a social worker does are quick to believe that the reason an individual is in that negative situation is because of the social worker.

 

Through my work in child welfare, I became more familiar with the study of social work but was not entirely convinced it was the path that I wanted to take. At this point, I was wholly engulfed in the child welfare world in Miami.

As my career continued, I met with a copious amount of people, many of them turning out to be veteran social workers. I came to realize that the common factor among them all and the great work they were doing was a Master of Social Work degree.

Working in child welfare, I quickly fell in love with my career and working with the children. While I loved what I did, I was increasingly frustrated because I wanted to do more.

 

What was holding me back from doing more for the children and families I served was my lack of a master's degree. If wanted to continue to advance in the child welfare field, I needed to advance my education.

I was almost entirely convinced that I wanted to study social work, but I still took the time to sit down and speak with numerous supervisors regarding how I should go about continuing my schooling.

I asked for advice about different programs and areas of study. Since they had been in the field for so long, I felt as though the information I received was the best I could ask for.

I decided that an MSW online graduate degree was precisely the degree I needed to fulfill all that I have planned at that point for my future.

 

The first place I looked for master’s programs was Florida State. I had such an incredible undergraduate experience at FSU, that if they had a program that matched my interests, it would be my number one choice.

FSU also had incredible professors, advisors, deans, and support staff. It would be incredible to have the support and guidance during my graduate degree.

FSU offered a few different options through the MSW online graduate program. The online option appealed to me the most. I loved my on-campus experience at FSU, but I was now at a different point in my life.

I had a job that I loved and was passionate about. I knew that I had an entire caseload of human trafficking victims that needed me as their case manager, and I loved being their case manager. I also had my grandparents, who I assisted in taking care of who also needed me.

 

As a result of my many responsibilities, I needed a program that would fit into my already busy schedule. The online program was perfect for me. I would be able to work on my classes while maintaining my full-time job and while taking care of my family.

With the freedom of online courses, I can work on coursework during periods of time that fit best with my schedule. The program also functioned on a part-time level, an additional. It was manageable to take two classes at a time while working full-time.

Now in my final semester, I have already experienced the many doors the degree has opened for me. I have made connections through my professors, my advisors, and my fellow students.

I was concerned when I started online classes that I would miss out on having classmates. However, I have still made great connections and have a couple of people that have followed almost the same coursework track as I have.

 

I know this degree will continue to open even more doors for me. I have already moved up and received promotions. Nonetheless, the most important thing I have gotten out of this degree is the ability to provide even more for the populations I work with.

I have grown so much since the start of this degree. I am now able to do things I was frustrated I could not do when I was working in child welfare.

While I have gotten so much out of my degree already, I know it will continue to provide me with opportunities. I am already considering pursuing licensure and my education further in a doctoral program.

I feel very connected with my professors and advisors. I know that if I am in need or if I have any questions, even though I am no longer in the courses, I feel as though my professors will be there for me.

After graduation, I drove down to Miami to begin a job at a child welfare agency. This position required me to go through three months of intensive training. I was able to learn from several seasoned social workers who all reiterated that to move up in my profession, I would need an MSW.

I began exploring my options. I had some concerns about online classes in the past, but after taking online classes during my undergraduate degree, I was impressed by how structured they were and how much information I pick up working on my own.

My concerns quickly went away. Surprisingly, I felt even closer to my professors and teaching assistants on the online platform. I communicated with them freely and built lasting relationships.

And because I was working full-time at my job in child welfare, which I genuinely enjoyed, I knew I wanted to do an online program.

 

Since my undergraduate experience at Florida State was so incredible, it was naturally the first school I looked at.

I reached out to the College of Social Work and was helped through the whole process. I had a plethora of questions, as I wanted to do everything correctly.

If I needed clarification, I was always pointed in the right direction. I was provided a program guide that was immensely useful in exploring different supplemental certifications as well as courses offered.

The more I looked into the online MSW program at Florida State, the more excited I became. 

 

I submitted an online application that was user-friendly and provided a statement of purpose and resume. I enjoyed writing my statement of purpose as it helped to ground me and think critically about the questions.

In addition, a GRE score is required but check with an advisor as there is now a GRE waiver that requires certain criteria to be met.

Throughout the enrollment process, I had the assistance of the enrollment advisors. These individuals provide you with all the answers you need to ensure that your enrollment process is a smooth one.

When I was applying, I did not meet all of the criteria I needed to get into the program. The program requires a 3.0 GPA on your undergraduate studies, and I had finished mine with a 2.9.

 

As a result, I ended up having to write a supplemental letter explaining why I believe I would be able to handle the demands of a graduate program.

This essay provided me with an opportunity to look back onto my undergraduate years and see how I could improve myself further.

I was able to successfully articulate that to the application reviewers by explaining my struggles during my undergraduate career.

Don’t get discouraged if you have similar struggles.

 

My trainers and social work mentors spoke so highly about an MSW degree and about how many doors that continuing my education would open for me in my career.

I saw quickly how accurate this was. Once I began taking classes, I started receiving promotions right away.

Seeing how impressed the hiring managers were at my work that I was continuing my education confirmed that I had made the right decision.

It also made me realize the need for more social workers with advanced degrees.

 

Florida State had always provided me with the most supportive teachers and staff, and that support is key. I have always felt as though my professors and TAs have only wanted the best for me.

They have always been reassuring and will provide me with the proper support and guidance I needed to succeed.

The university also offers a multitude of other resources, including tutoring, librarians, success coaches, and counseling sessions among many others.

One of my favorite FSU resources is the ProfessioNole Mentors Program, in which I participate as a mentor.

The program connects students with alumni and friends of the university that provide them with guidance and advice.

 

I was so amazed by all that Florida State had to offer it was through this program that it is the only graduate program I applied to.

Luckily for me, my application was accepted, and I have felt nothing but lucky throughout the entire program.

I have always felt like I was being guided in the right direction and that I still had someone to turn to in the event that I may ever need anything.

I recommend all of you take the time to speak with an enrollment advisor as well as download the program guide.

Both will provide you with copious amounts of information as well as the reassurance that you are making the right decision in considering this program of study.