MORE ABOUT REBECCA
Graduation Date: June 2008
Hometown: Aurora, Illinois
Undergraduate School: DePaul University
Awards & Achievements:
- Graduate assistant for Political Activist VIA Engagement (PAVE), DePaul’s University Ministry
- Saint Vincent de Paul Leadership Award
- John Egan Service Award
- Reverend Ben Richardson Humanitarian Award
Campus Involvement:
- Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA)
Current Employment:
- University Ministry, DePaul University
Rebecca Reed
Area of Study:Social Work (MSW)
I chose my area of study because... of the many experiences I had doing community service through service and activism as an undergrad. For me, social work provided the opportunity to pursue a career working for social justice and gave me the tools to be a better community organizer.
My favorite thing to do on campus is... hang out at the little coffee shop in SAC. It is my favorite place to have a study group, meet up with friends or just sit around with my laptop and check my e-mail.
The learning environment here at DePaul is… Not too big, not too small. I feel like being able to get know my professors and my classmates and having them be able to get to know me has deepened my academic experience. Being able to build these relationships motivates me to put in the extra time and effort in my studies so I can fully contribute what I have learned and share my experiences in class. After almost six years at DePaul, I can also say that when I was running low on motivation, DePaul faculty, staff and students have always been there to give me the encouragement I need to get through.
My favorite professor at DePaul is... Dr. Neil Vincent. Dr. Vincent’s professionalism, personal experiences in the field and expertise in program evaluation have made his classes some of my most valuable experiences I have had at DePaul. I feel that he supplies the practical tools that we need to have to not only become successful social workers, but, also, to best serve the communities we will be working in.
When I have free time, I like to... bike around the city. Although I am a little bit of a coward when it comes to biking in the variety of crazy weather Chicago has offer, seeing the city from the comfort of my bike seat has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective of life in the city.
My favorite thing to do off campus is... going out to eat! The best part about living in Chicago is exploring the different neighborhoods and communities. Whether it is chicken masala on Devon or dim sum in Chinatown, I feel the best way to get to know the community and the people who live there is through their food.
One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was... how many extracurricular activities and experiences would be available to me. Getting involved at DePaul through University Ministry and Student Life has enriched my academic experience and made me feel more connected to the DePaul community.
The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago is... using the city as an extension of the classroom. I have been able to take what I have learned in class and apply it to or find experiences within Chicago that bring added meaning to the lessons I have learned.
DePaul's School of Social Service program is unique compared to other schools I considered attending because... unlike many other schools I looked into, DePaul’s MSW provided the emphasis in community practice that I was looking for. I really appreciated how the MSW program also infused the university’s mission of recognizing the inherent human dignity of all people and particular attention towards serving the poor and oppressed into the mission and goals of the program.
I chose to pursue a career in social work through an education at DePaul because... the most influential thing on my decision was the many community service experiences I have had through DePaul’s University Ministry as an undergrad. By participating in weekly service groups through DePaul Community Service Association and DePaul’s Spring Break Service Immersion programs, I found my passion for working for change through relationship building and direct service. Social work seemed to be the logical choice for me to continue doing this work and to learn the skills I needed to do it well. DePaul’s MSW program has helped me develop those skills through my course work and through their guidance during my field (internship) experiences.
The best thing about DePaul is... the people I have had the opportunity to meet and work with. The relationships I have made with faculty, staff and students have helped me not only grow as a professional, but as a person.
The one thing I’d like to say to students considering DePaul... no matter where you go, it is up to you to make the most out of your college experience. As a DePaul student, I feel that my course work, the extracurricular activities I have been part of and simply being in Chicago has given me every opportunity (and many more) to grow and continue to be challenged as a social worker and a person.
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