Madison Smith ’22

Social Work

Biography

I have had a huge passion for adoption work since I was twelve years old. The Taylor social work program helped me pursue my dreams of a career in the field of adoption. During the spring semester of my senior year, I was privileged to complete my practicum at a nonprofit adoption agency in Indianapolis. The social work department greatly prepared me for the work I encountered during my practicum experience, and the practicum further increased my passion for adoption. I am now pursuing a Master's of Social Work degree at IUPUI to increase my education and experiences in the field of adoption. I am specializing in children, youth, and families, and the Taylor social work department laid a foundation for me that has been so valuable in my graduate program.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

Taylor has so many valuable and life-shaping experiences; it is one of the many things that makes Taylor such a special place. Living alongside women in my "home" away from home was such an influential piece of my Taylor experience as I had the opportunity to grow in Christ with other believers. I also value the experiences I had in the classroom, specifically with my social work cohort. I was able to learn about the areas of my passion while also watching my peers learn about their specific passions. I valued the time I was able to spend getting coffee with professors I greatly admired as I sought out advice or wisdom from them. I am also thankful for the body of believers that is represented at Taylor, where I was able to deepen and grow my faith in order to stand firm on a foundation that is rooted in Christ.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

Just as I had opportunities to take classes that furthered my passions for the social work field, I also had the opportunity to meet some incredible professors and peers who walked alongside me throughout my four years at Taylor. The classes I took during my time at Taylor impacted my growth as I was able to gain clarity and excitement for my future career in the social work field. Furthermore, the professors in the social work program work hard to establish lifelong learning in their students. This impacted my growth as I now have a learner's mindset and perspective. Finally, I was taught and led by professors who I admired and valued, and they impacted my growth as they encouraged and pushed me to pursue my passions wholeheartedly.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Social work is an eclectic discipline in that it uses a broad range of knowledge and values, including a few courses from other disciplines. The social work courses, specifically, focus on the whole person—meaning we recognize that each person is influenced by everything around them and we must consider the impact their environment has on their well-being. Taylor's liberal arts education allows social work majors to understand the depth and complexity of the human experience. A liberal arts education is foundational to social work as it provides a wide range of classes in different disciplines that help students further understand all that social work encompasses. Social work uses theories and knowledge from a range of perspectives including: 1) the medical model, 2) the psychosocial perspective, 3) strengths perspective, 4) person-in-environment, and many others.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

In the social work field, it is important to have a deep passion for serving others because there are countless roles a social worker may embrace. Having a passion for people and their well-being is foundational to any work and job in the social work field.