Personal Statement:Social work 2 - The Student Room

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I am a people’s person. I am passionately interesting in listening to people’s problem and finding strategies to help solve them. In everyday life people go through difficulties that make life impossible to them to live. There is a saying that says a service is only as good as the person who delivered the service. I want to be that person who delivered a good service to people who needs it. Through studying subjects like psychology, sociology, and abnormal psychology I can satisfy my interest in some of the problems that affect people and how society influences people’s actions or behaviour, especially abnormal psychology that looks at the way people are characterised in society and what possible behaviour they need to show to get professional help. In society, people in various stages of life are facing different problems, like abuse, disabilities and mental illness. Some live in residential homes or with their families and sometimes struggle to get the right facilities or treatment they deserve.

Presently in my Access class, I was elected as a class representative after giving a speech to convince the class that I am capable of the post. My ethnic origin and cultural awareness have allowed me to be very sociable and interactive. I am interested in reading real-life stories about children who have been abused by their families or someone outside their family. I go to the gym and church to release some stress; however, I enjoy the opportunity to make new friends, interacting with people from different backgrounds and levels in life as it is a different environment. I enjoy socialising with people so much that when I went to college I became a class representative.

As an applicant I am very respectful, open minded and non-judgmental. Therefore, I believe in equal opportunity and am always ready to challenge any unfair discrimination. I am highly motivated, enthusiastic and persuasive towards education, especially towards this particular subject as it is my dream profession.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Currently I am a parent and a support worker for learning disability. Some of my responsibilities are maintaining individual privacy and confidentiality, supporting them to cope with their daily life, organising daily activities, encouraging them to make quality decisions that will enable them to gain more privacy within their home, supporting them to college which helps them develop new skills/improve their skills, and communicating effectively with other professionals when needed.

I was a care assistant for three months assisting elderly people in a residential home. I was also a primary teacher for kids aged 5-6 years in West Africa, Sierra Leone, Freetown, where I taught subjects like Maths, English, Art and Craft, Sport, Rhythms, and Religious education. During those periods some of my responsibilities were setting targets and goals to achieve and complete academic syllabus, organising school trips, preparing notes for lessons and making sure that aims and objectives of the lessons were met.

Currently I am enjoying my Access course and it has developed my curiosity, therefore I feel it is an excellent preparation to further my studies in university and become a social worker.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

In my role as a support worker and parent, I have gained valuable experience supporting people with learning disabilities, which has enhanced my skills in maintaining confidentiality, encouraging independence, and effective communication with professionals. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable people and the importance of quality social care.

Outside of education and work, I like reading real-life stories about children who have been abused, which helps me understand the realities some people face. I also go to the gym and church to manage stress and enjoy socialising with people from different backgrounds, which has helped me develop good interpersonal skills and cultural awareness. This sociability and my ability to interact widely were recognised when I was elected class representative in my Access class.

These experiences have helped me discover my personality and abilities, making me more determined to face challenging situations in both work and academic life. I believe the dedication, patience, and commitment I have shown so far will help me succeed in social work, a vocational and professional course where I am eager to contribute positively to people’s lives.

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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