Ariana's Story

Ariana is in the process of obtaining a Master of Social Work. We were so happy to hear her story and how she is impacting the lives of countless others. We are proud to have her in Ameliora as she begins this new chapter of her professional career. Read more below about Ariana below and be inspired by her determination to help others #AchieveMore

Can you tell us about a mentor figure that has played a significant role in your life? What did they teach you?

One of my mom’s friends, she’s a psychologist and helped introduce me to the social work field when I wasn't sure if I wanted to get a masters. She also helped me realize that it’s okay to not always know what you want to do right out of college and it’s important to explore different possibilities.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

My first job was a lifeguarding/swim instructor at a day camp. I loved it and continued to work there for nine summers eventually becoming the supervisor of the pool.  It taught me responsibility, teamwork, and how to take on leadership roles and effectively support and empower others that I work with.

How did you know when you had found your ideal career path?

It took a little while but I started working at an elementary school for my field placement this year and it all fell into place. I always wanted to work with children and I considered other career paths, such as education or occupational therapy. Once I started doing my hours for field I realized how much I enjoyed helping and supporting children with various social and emotional needs.

What does the term 'job satisfaction' mean to you?

Honestly just enjoying your job. Before I decided I wanted to go into social work I was a public relations major in college and during internships I never felt fulfilled or that I was making a difference in any way. I dreaded working in the field before I had even started and I knew it was not a career path I could continue with. Once I figured out what I wanted to do I felt excited about the possibilities I could pursue in the social work field. Obviously there are always going to be stressful days but I believe that enjoying what you do is the key to making the bad days worth it.

What is your view on failure?

I don’t believe you can fail at anything if you keep trying. Quitting is how you fail. Everyone has to look back at mistakes or choices they have made at some point and think, how can I do this differently next time or how can I make this work better? Learning from mistakes and being conscious of how you can improve in certain areas is always going to help you move forward.

What advice do you give other women in your field?

Have a lot of patience for others, but don’t let them intimidate you. A lot of times you’re going to hear, you can’t do that or it’s not going to work. If you believe it’s important and worth doing, you will find a way. I think it’s also important to go into everything with an open mind. When you try and rid yourself of internal biases you learn a lot from others that you might not expect

What is your personal definition of success?

Making a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s small.