By Andres Aguirre
Name: Jasiah Ruiz
Major: Social Work
- Tell us a little about yourself:
I was raised in Carlsbad, NM and graduated high at Carlsbad High School. Shortly, after high school I decided to attend ENMU. My first year being in college I decided not to join any type of club or organization because I feared it would get in the way of my grades. I was not sure how much I would have because I was not too sure what to except for my first year. My second year I decided to be a member of ENMU’s marching band. I was in my high school’s band as a color guard member, so I wanted to continue that in my college career. During band this is where I met most of my college friends. This was the same year I had finally found a on campus job at the Child Development Center. I did not realize how hard it would be to find a job in Portales, NM. I had sent many applications on campus and off campus. Attended many job fairs but finally my second year of college I had finally found a job. I am glad that many jobs did not accept me because I wouldn’t bothered applying for this job. At the CDC I was a teacher assistant and work with children ranging from the age of 2 years old to 5 years old. This job was a major stress relief for me just being able to interact with these young children and learning new ways on how to effectively communicate with children. Then my third year at ENMU I joined the Student Association of Social Workers club I am currently still a member and I am the current secretary of the club as well. My senior year I was accepted into Phi Alpha Honor Society for social workers. - What are your plans post-graduation?
After graduation I am planning to attend grad school and hopefully be accepted in the advanced standing program for social work, so I can receive my master’s degree in one year. I am also planning to start my career in the social work field as well. I would really like it if I could start out in the school setting of social work but right now I would be happy with any type of career right now that involved social work so I may earn that type of experience. - Do you plan on going to grad school? If so, where? And to study what?
I plan on attending Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. I will be studying for my master’s in social work. I will be planning to do distance ed instead of moving to Silver City. - What is your dream job? Why?
My dream job is be a school social worker. Fortunately, at my field practicum this year I am interning with a licensed school social worker. I get to learn hands on what it is like to be a school social worker. I was able to attend trainings, meetings with parents, meetings with all school social workers in the school district, got to experience individual counseling as well as group counseling. It made me realize that I enjoy the school setting and the purpose of a school social worker. With my current job at the CDC I found a passion with working with children. I really want to help children be a better them in the school environment as much as I can and to make sure they succeed in their educational career. - What is one thing that you’ve learned from the university?
One thing I have learned from the university is how to be an independent adult. Since I decided to move on campus I had to adjust being on my own and making sure I complete things in and have them turned in by the time it is due. Whether it was a homework assignment or a documentation I needed to turn into the university or any other type of services I may needed in Portales. I didn’t have my mom there telling me I needed to do this and this, so I felt that this university really helped teach me how to be a mature young adult. - What is some advice that you would give upcoming students?
I would highly recommend getting involved with campus. My first year I decided not to get too involved with campus because I feared not having enough time to balance out my time but learned that I had so much times on my hand that I was stuck in my dorm most of the time because I did not have much friends my first year. Once I started becoming more involved with campus I was able to meet new people and make new friends. It honestly had made me feel less homesick the more I got involved on campus. - Who was your favorite professor at ENMU? Why?
Professor Tyleen Caffrey of the Social Work program is my favorite professor at ENMU. She is caring and had so much compassion for her students. She has always made sure we were always learning in her classroom and always willing to work with students one on one if there was something in class or an assignment they may not have understood. Mrs. Caffrey has taught me so much and has been my professor every semester since I had started the social work program. She can be a little hard with her grading, but it is because she cares for us and wants us to learn and always gives us feedback on how we can do better. She also does because she is trying to prepare us for when we all got out to grad school and when we go to the field of social work. Some of the topics I had learned in her class I have carried on and practiced onto my field practicum and this had made it easier for me when beginning my internship. - What’s your best memory at ENMU?
My favorite memory at ENMU was attending football games with the Greyhound Sound band. I always had a fun time performing at the football games and being able to experience college football games. - Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
In 5 years, I hope to see myself being a successful licensed school social worker in the elementary school setting. I definitely would like to see myself living in a different town rather than my hometown. Hopefully, I may be living in Texas with my boyfriend where everything is green and there’s a big beautiful lake nearby.
