Hoda Shalash is like many students in college.

She thought she knew what she wanted to major in, and for three years, Hoda worked toward her degree in special education. As she began filling out graduate school applications, Hoda realized how restricted she was in what she wanted to do.

“I always knew I wanted to work with inner-city kids and mentor youth, but I’m also so passionate about developing communities and working within them,” Hoda said. “So, I never saw myself within a school setting. I felt restricted by that.”

Everything in Hoda’s world outside of her schoolwork seemed to align back to social work. It became clear to her that that was where her passion for helping others was meant to be.

Hoda also realized how much more versatile a degree in social work would be.

“You know, getting your bachelor’s in education only certifies you to work in a school setting. A degree in social work is a lot more versatile,” Hoda said. “I hope to get my master’s in clinical social work, too, to apply those skills to whatever I do on a macro level.”

Changing her major felt like a quarter-life crisis. Still, once Hoda entered the social work program, she quickly found the fuel to ignite her passion for helping others. While sitting in one of her intro classes, she learned about the institutional injustices and systemic racism.

“I was sitting there, and this is going to sound so cliché, but the thing I told myself is – ‘If not me, then who?’ Our communities need so much healing, and that’s not going to get done if we don’t have enough social works and enough passionate social workers.”

Growing up as a Palestinian Muslim girl in Lexington, Kentucky, Hoda had the opportunity to see and experience the need for healing in the communities that surrounded her. One community that she felt a significant connection to was the one she grew up with. Being in Lexington played a substantial role in her decision to come to the University of Kentucky College of Social Work.

“Lexington plays a considerable role, as well as the community. So much of the faculty here are so interconnected and intertwined within the community. I think that there are so many people here doing amazing things,” Hoda said. “Like Dr. L (Diane Loeffler, Director of Undergraduate Programs), I met her at a coffee shop, and now we’re friends. Everyone here is so supportive. I look up to so many of the people here.”

Alumna Nada Shalash is also someone Hoda looks up to, and not just because she’s her big sister. Hoda said she is her biggest role model because of how passionate she is about social work. Not only has Nada been successful in her endeavors upon graduating, but Hoda has had the unique opportunity to see her passion grow throughout her time in the CoSW program.

And a growing passion is what has fueled Hoda to do the same. 

“I think it’s been easy to be ambitious in this program and actually feel confident because there is so much support and so many opportunities for student success,” Hoda said. “Even financially, I feel like they (CoSW) offer great scholarships, and they always send job opportunities. I feel like they truly care about student success.”

The biggest take away for Hoda has been being able to finally study her passion – and it’s been fun. Although she struggled a little at the beginning when she switched her major, it was worth it knowing she had found her purpose. 

Her advice to others having their quarter-life crisis is to sit and reflect on what their values are, to self-assess what they want in life and what their purpose is.

“It goes back to value setting. Once you layout your values, you realize how much it aligns with social work,” Hoda said. “That’s what’s going to take you far and what is going to reignite your passion. You also have to be open-minded and challenge your discomfort and learn from it. Within social work specifically, you can’t go far, and you can’t be successful if you don’t challenge yourself.

And as cliché as this is going to sound – unlearn your fears and hatred.”

Hoda anticipates graduating in May 2021 and is considering applying for the Integrated Behavioral Health program. 

When Tamara Vest was just nine years old, her father and primary caregiver, died. Her mother, who had substance abuse issues, was not an option when it came to relocate. Instead, the courts gave her much older brother custody rather than placing her into foster care.

However, because of bad family history and an abusive household, Vest found herself wishing she had been placed anywhere but there.

“That was the most traumatic experience of my life. When I was 16, they decided they didn’t want to take care of me anymore,” Vest recalled. “Literally after school one day, they said they were taking me to a homeless shelter.” 

Vest spent the next month at Arbor Youth Services, a shelter for children and teens, before finally being placed in a foster home. With her previous challenges aside, Vest faced new barriers in finding a home.

At the time of her foster care placement, a social worker told Vest that there was only one home in Lexington fostering teenagers, bringing into focus an issue that is hardly addressed. It seemed there was a lack of wanting to foster children once they reached young adult or teenage status. 

Vest only stayed in the foster home just shy of a year. At 17, she decided to take part in an independent living program where she was provided her own apartment. She was provided assistance on paying rent, was given a grocery stipend and allowances. The only caveat was she either had to be in school full-time, working full-time, or be part-time for both. 

And while it was a great experience that she enjoyed, there was a few things Vest wasn’t prepared for.

“I’ve always been the type that had my stuff together, so it wasn’t really hard for me. I enjoyed it,” Vest said. “But I will say though, it is hard because you don’t have support. I literally had to teach myself how to cook everything because I had never been taught that. I just had to teach myself everything.”

Once she turned 18, Vest had the option of leaving foster care or recommitting until she was 21. Fed up with having social workers and being in the system, she decided to strike out on her own. She began her college career at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, pursuing a degree in political science. However, she soon realized that wasn’t quite the fit for her. 

Vest took some time off from school to find out what she should pursue, finally finding herself in the line of social work. With so many avenues to choose from in the world of social work, she knew one thing — she didn’t want to work in foster care and child welfare.

Originally wanting to work with people in poverty or changing policies to better help others, the last thing she expected was to be placed in a position where she would be advocating for foster care and child welfare.

While interviewing for the Fostering Success program, Vest met someone who was with Voices of the Commonwealth (VOC), an organization that advocates for foster youth. Vest was asked if she would be interested in telling her story about being in foster care as a teen and emphatically, she said yes.

But her work with VOC was more than just telling her story. She soon found herself doing work she swore she would never get involved in – foster care and child welfare.

“It’s way more than telling my story, but I’ve been able to learn everything about the child welfare system, how it works, and what we’re doing to change it. I’ve been able to put my voice in there saying, ‘Hey, this is what I think we need to do because I have had this experience,’” Vest said. “I’ve been to D.C., Orlando, all over the state of Kentucky. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and hands down, the best job I’ve ever had.”

Now, Vest uses her personal experiences to advocate for children and teens who are in similar situations. Just recently, Vest was asked to speak in front of Kentucky legislators about the work being done within VOC.

 In addition, Vest attends events where she interacts with foster youth, providing them with information about programs and resources, while also having fun. 

“I want to do what makes me happy and I felt like social work was right for me. I want to be a part of foster care transformation,” Vest said. “Every time I do these events and every time I’m out advocating for foster youth; it just brings me happiness.”

For some, going to college after high school is a no-brainer. But for Daniel Beasley, pursuing higher education wasn’t an option.

The University of Kentucky senior comes from a family of scholars. Beasley’s mother holds a master’s degree and works as a speech pathologist, and his father has his associate degree. On top of that, each of his eight brothers and two sisters hold degrees — ranging from associate to doctoral. 

“I guess you could say we have a legacy of seeking higher education. It’s kind of a requirement in our house that you finish high school and go to college,” Beasley said. “It wasn’t an option that you weren’t going to do that.”

But the Elizabethtown-native is anything but a traditional college student. 

Upon graduating from high school in 2007, Beasley began his journey to earn a bachelor’s degree. He quickly felt ill-prepared. Eventually, Beasley took a step back from his studies and decided to take time off. 

However, it wasn’t long before Beasley started going to school part-time — picking up a class here and there. One such class was in social work at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, which was suggested to him by a friend who knew of Beasley’s compassionate ways.

“It changed my life. I fell in love almost immediately. I’ve always cared very deeply about policy and politics, and I found that social work was an area where I wouldn’t have to work the same job for the rest of my life.”

With life and work experience under his belt, I pop over here for best relationships and Beasley felt more than prepared to give school a second chance. His passion for giving back was undeniable — in and out for the classroom.  Once he started retaking classes, he didn’t stop there. 

Between pursuing his undergraduate degree in social work, Beasley worked two jobs. As an employee at a comprehensive recovery center for women, he helps provide recovery services to mothers battling substance use disorder. Beasley also volunteers within the religious community, as well as sings in choirs around Lexington.

“There is never enough time,” Beasley joked. “It all keeps me really busy.”

And if that wasn’t enough, Beasley was accepted into the University Scholars Program. The opportunity allowed him to integrate his undergraduate and graduate courses of study in a single continuous program culminating in both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. 

While Beasley is graduating this December with his bachelor’s, where he will address the Class of 2019 as a student speaker, he will once again cross the stage at Rupp Arena in May 2021 to receive his masters. One day, he said, he might even pursue a doctoral degree. 

Beasley gravitated toward the world of social work because of his inner calling to serve others. And the field blended well with his keen sense of faith. He is heavily involved at Bluegrass United Church of Christ as ‘a young person serving as an elder’ and caring for the congregation. Additionally, Beasley works in an organization at St. Paul’s Catholic Church that is doing work within the community to bring different faith groups together to think about solving problems.

“I write papers and talk to people often about a scripture in the Old Testament, Micah 6:8, which talks about doing justice, showing mercy and love to people, and I think that social work really embodies Micah 6:8,” Beasley said. “That is really the driving force behind anything that I do related to social work and the work I will do in the future.”

Beasley has always been a go-getter, but he credits the College of Social Work, for giving him the skills and confidence to succeed. 

“This program at UK has fostered and nurtured me and has been phenomenal for me on so many different levels. I always think about all the various professors and faculty that have provided amazing amounts of support and guidance over the years,” he continued. “Dean Miller has been an incredible mentor and person that has provided guidance to me that I am sure I wouldn’t have got from someone else.”

“Daniel is intelligent, intentional, and impassioned. He is an exceptional student and an even better human being,” said Jay Miller, Dean of the College of Social Work. “He is the epitome of what is means to do and practice social work. His presence has truly made our College and the University a better place. We will be proud to call him an alum.”

Though the CoSW program has been challenging and rigorous at times, Beasley said he would certainly recommend it to others. Based on his experiences at UK — between the faculty, classmates, and classes — Beasley is convinced others will benefit greatly, just as he did, from being a part of the program.

After graduation, Beasley plans to continue his work at the women’s recovery center. He hopes to eventually find his way to Frankfort or Washington, D.C., to work on changing policy and advocating on behalf of social workers everywhere.

“I am grateful for the journey because although at times it was incredibly difficult and there were times I was ready to hang it up, there were so many people in my life that have provided guidance and support that has gotten me through to this point,” Beasley said. “Even though it has taken 10ish years, I’ve learned and grown in a way that will make a difference in the way that I serve people after graduation is over.”