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This page highlights a woman and her career, setting an example of the diversity of options available to you.
Career Spotlight - Social Worker
Name: Amy T.
How long have you been a Girl Scout? From age 6 to age 18
Current employer: Mado Healthcare
What is your current position? Social Worker
What do you like best about your current position? I really enjoy having the opportunity to work with clients with various backgrounds and life experiences because this keeps my work interesting. It is also rewarding to feel like I help those in need.
What do you do on a daily basis? I interact with my clients who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. I meet with them to discuss their goals or difficulties they are facing in their daily lives. I also lead groups and work with my co-workers on projects to improve our services.
Briefly describe how you obtained this position? I was working for another company, and I did not like what I was doing there. I was very interested in working in the social work field and saw a posting on an internet job site. I sent my resume and had an interview and got hired!
What is your advice for girls wanting to pursue a similar career? Try volunteering at a shelter, food pantry or elementary school to see if you like it. This will give you a good idea of what it is like to help others (a big part of social work).
City and state you grew up in: Zoar, Ohio
What did you want to be when you were a child? I had a lot of ideas of what I wanted to be when I was a child: lawyer, actress, dentist, doctor, writer, etc. I guess I could just never make up my mind because so many jobs seemed so interesting to me.
What was your main interest/favorite subject in high school? I loved history and math. I really enjoyed band and choir, and I was involved with my high school's drama department. I also loved being a member of the Girl Scouts and part of a 4-H club.
What college did you attend? The Ohio State University
How did you decide to attend this particular school? Ohio State had so many opportunities to study different things. Since I couldn't make up my mind, this seemed like the perfect choice for me.
What was your major? Social Work
Did you change your major? Yes. I was a Chemisty major for the first two years of my college experience.
If so, why? I really wanted to be a science teacher, but after I shadowed a teacher in a middle school, I realized that I was truly interested in my students' homes and parents and how these affected them in school. Social Work seemed like a better fit for me because being a social worker allows you to help children or adults with personal issues that really affect them.
Starting position (just out of college or the equivalent): I worked as a waitress for a while, and then I worked at a company that provided counseling to people over the phone.
Volunteer work/other community involvement: Church choir, community theater, and volunteering at a pre-school