My name is Amy Caballero, and I am pursuing a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), on the USG campus. My educational journey has been a very long one that first started back in 2010. I started at Montgomery College as an art major and then switched to a general studies degree to determine my next plan. When I had it figured out, I decided to get my associate's degree and later transferred to Towson University where I earned a Bachelor's in Spanish Language and Literature with a minor in Latin American Studies.
I landed a nonprofit job after graduating in 2018, working alongside social workers with unaccompanied minors. Eventually, I realized I wanted to further my career with another degree that would complement my first one. I became interested in social work because it has an interdisciplinary approach to social issues and advocacy. I eventually came to learn about the two social work programs offered at USG at the bachelor's and master's levels, and the smaller class sizes really appealed to me. Plus, after spending over a year commuting an hour to school, I did not want a long commute.
In the spring of 2020, I actually applied to the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Master’s in Social Work (MSW) program, and unfortunately did not get in. But I did not let that discourage me from where I wanted to go. At that point, I figured the next best step would be to pursue a bachelor’s degree from UMBC at USG in social work. Then upon completion, I would apply to the UMB MSW program once again. I am happy to say this is where I am now and I’m completing my final year.
I am also proud to be part of the first cohort receiving the Healthcare Initiative Foundation (HIF) scholarship at the MSW level. Thanks to this scholarship opportunity, I have been able to spend more time focusing on my schoolwork. During my time as an undergrad, I was involved as a board member of the Social Worker Student Association (SWSA). I hope to get involved again in future semesters. In addition, I have done my field placements – a social work internship requirement – at Identity, Inc., serving underserved youth in Montgomery County and at Advanced Behavioral Health, providing therapeutic services to families in the county.
My anticipated graduation date is May 2024 and I plan to get my license (LMSW) after graduation. After that, I am excited to see what my future holds.
