Niurka De Jesus. Courtesy photo.
𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗖𝗦𝗦𝗪: Clinical
𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: Mental Health
𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲: LICSW/Trainer
Niurka De Jesus, MSW'16, says that the Latinx Leadership Initiative at the Boston College School of Social Work gave her the tools to thrive in the helping profession.
The cohort-based program, which prepares bilingual and bicultural social workers to accompany Latinx communities in creating sustainable solutions to complex problems, strengthened her leadership skills, boosted her confidence in her professional abilities, and taught her the importance of collaboration.
Now, nearly a decade after earning her degree, De Jesus has returned to the Heights and joined BCSSW's Alumni Board with a clear mission: to partner with fellow social workers to create long-term solutions that strengthen the BC community and beyond.
In particular, De Jesus wants to encourage students to draw on the support of their peers, professors, and colleagues as they pursue their first professional jobs. "Remember that you have a BCSSW network of peers, professors, and professionals that you can reach out to as you navigate your first job and beyond," she says.
𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗖𝗦𝗦𝗪?
Rocio Calvo, Robin Warsh, and Scott Easton were some of my favorite professors while at BCSSW.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗖𝗦𝗦𝗪 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯?
One of the main key takeaways from my time at BCSSW thanks to Professor Rocio Calvo is that I need to embrace my strengths, and be relentless about the change I desire to see in myself, my community, and generations to come. Professor Calvo and the Latinx Leadership Initiative helped me strengthen my advocacy and leadership skills. Professor Calvo has served as a powerful mentor. She inspired me to boldly maximize my capacity to have a profound impact in my current job, as well as throughout my sphere of influence.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲?
The best part of being a LICSW is that it allows me to do clinical and macro work that I love.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗦𝗪 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿?
I would recommend exploring how our robust BCSSW network can support you with the process of searching for or acclimating to your first job as a social worker. Remember that you already have valuable professional experiences that include your practicum experiences. Social Work roles tend to be very demanding, so I would advise prioritizing your overall wellbeing. Be intentional about establishing a self-care routine during your work day/week. Take lunch breaks, go for a quick walk with a co-worker, do a five-minute mindfulness activity, fully engage in supervision, and ask for help when you need it or anything else that will support your wellbeing.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱?
I'm excited to join the BCSSW's Alumni Board and eager to explore how we can collectively collaborate as social workers to create sustainable solutions at a macro level that can help strengthen outcomes not only for BC, but our community at large.