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 final Mental Health Scholar highlight is R.J. Magambo. R.J. was born in Liberia and immigrated to Minnesota with her family when she was seven years old. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Psychology and moved to Rochester in 2022 when she got married. R.J. currently works at Riverside Elementary School as an Education Support Professional.
How is the Master’s in Social Work program going for you now that you are in the second semester?
The program is going really well for me. I am enjoying what I am doing and all of what I am learning. It is difficult but also very rewarding at the same time. I am keeping in mind all of the impact I can make with all that I am learning keeps me going.
What do you enjoy about the program?
I enjoy all the interesting readings and information in my classes. There is so much information and many different perspectives, which are all very informative and eye-opening. I also really enjoy talking to the scholars in my cohort! It is so fun and refreshing to be in the same boat with everybody and have the opportunity to vent and celebrate together.
What was your thought process when applying for the Master’s in Social Work?
I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and I thought social work would be an excellent way to use the skills I’ve already learned. I also really love the Social Work approach to mental health and appreciate the trauma-informed perspective.
What words of encouragement do you have for the next group of RPS staff starting their Masters in Social Work in the fall?
Be open to new ideas and new perspectives.
Learn the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics and ways to apply them.
You will have to make sacrifices, but it will be worth it.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to your instructors.
Talk to people in your cohort! They will be helpful in times of confusion and hardships throughout the program.
IT WILL BE HARD, DON’T GIVE UP!