Byrd Preparing to Return to School – as a Social Worker
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Haviland Byrd
Haviland Byrd has always had an inquisitive mind.
“I am deeply intrigued by understanding the motivations behind human behavior,” said Byrd, a Chicago native who is in her second and final year of study at the Jane Addams College of Social Work. “I’m also interested in understanding why humans think the way they do.”
As a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Byrd knew she would need to further her education should she elect to pursue a career in the field. She enjoyed the classroom training, but to gain more experience, Byrd served as a research assistant for a clinical psychology doctoral student. During the internship, Byrd felt pulled in a different direction.
“I want to work one-on-one with people, and I discovered that social work would give me that opportunity,” said Byrd, who is scheduled to graduate with her master’s degree in May 2025.
Byrd was initially interested in entering the JACSW’s mental health specialization but drawing on her past experiences in elementary and high school with faculty and staff, working in a school environment also intrigued her. Ultimately, the school social work specialization won out.
Empathy is a characteristic of social workers, and Byrd feels her experiences growing up on Chicago’s south side will show her future students that success can be achieved with hard work and perseverance. She excelled scholastically at Alcott College Prep even though the days were long, as she left her home in the Calumet Heights neighborhood on Chicago’s south side at 6 a.m. to take two buses and a train to arrive before the north side school’s 7:45 a.m. opening period.
Personal and professional reasons led Byrd to the JACSW. Her elderly grandparents have played a significant role in shaping her life, and she sought a challenging school where she could be in close proximity to them.
With her final year underway, Byrd said she believes her Jane Addams education will be beneficial for her future endeavors and has “felt well supported by my professors. During my generalist year, I had the pleasure of taking Multicultural Social Work and I will never forget my instructor. She exemplifies what it means to be a social worker. She stressed the importance of continually educating oneself about the challenges faced by people with different identities. She also emphasized how important it is to constantly check yourself and reflect, meaning being aware of how your own biases and personal experiences might unintentionally hinder your work.
“I can’t wait to begin my social work career.”