March is Social Work Month, a time to celebrate social workers and their incredible work within our schools. Last year, Rochester Public Schools received a $1.9 million U.S. Department of Education Grant that allowed us to provide up to 30 Master’s level Social Work scholarships and internship placements at RPS. Recipients would receive necessary supervision and support while increasing our social work staffing by at least 10% in the next five years. This month, we will highlight four of our School Based Mental Health Scholars and see how they have been doing after their first semester!
Our third highlight is Mikala Hora. Mikala is originally from South Dakota and is in her fourth year with Rochester Public Schools. She currently works as a peer coach and a float for our mental health practitioners.
How is the Master’s in Social Work program going for you now that you are in the second semester?
The Master's in Social Work program is going well in the second semester. Although the workload seems to have increased a bit, the professors and other scholars in the program are so helpful when I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Working full-time and being a full-time student presents its own set of challenges. I would say the reward of managing time appropriately and seeing the growth in learning and practice outweighs any challenges I may have.
What do you enjoy about the program?
What I enjoy most about the program is its direct application to the work I am doing both in my full-time position and at my foundational practicum. I recently learned that part of my learning style is kinesthetic. Knowing that and being able to use what I am learning in my courses in a hands-on way when I work with clients directly impacts my learning. The courses are laid out to encourage further use or application of learned materials in your practicum.
What was your thought process when applying for the Master’s in Social Work?
My thought process when I decided to apply for the Master's in Social Work program was that I needed to practice what I was teaching. When we found out this program was an option, I was working with students on emotions. At the time, we focused on fears and how they sometimes kept us from trying new things. At the time, I was terrified of applying for the Master's program even though I knew it was something that I really wanted to do. In a small group circle activity, I sat and listened to the students talk about their fears and all of the things they were scared to try because of fear of failure. I then listened to their peers encourage and support one another in finding ways to overcome those fears. It was at that moment that I knew without a doubt that I would apply, no matter how scared I was to fail, to try just like my students were willing to do.
What words of encouragement do you have for the next group of RPS staff starting their Masters in Social Work in the fall?
My encouragement to the next cohort is to lean on one another and make every minute count. The depth and wealth of knowledge from Winona State University and Rochester Public School staff is endless. Utilize your peers and cohort members for support, and you will do just fine. The support team you have around you wants to see you succeed!