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 Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ 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 Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ 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.