Graduating BSW Spotlight: Shaza Al-Kassim
Shaza Al-Kassim, a graduating senior in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare’s Bachelor of Social Work program, found interest in the field through her curiosity for people.
Al-Kassim grew up in Lawrence but initially started college at Emporia State University and Johnson County Community College. She was a pre-nursing major and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City before realizing that wasn’t the path she wanted to take.
“I really wanted to talk to people and get to know their stories and where they're from and just everything about them,” Al-Kassim, who is also a Toni Johnson Scholar, said. “That's when I switched to social work, and then that's when I went to KU.”
Get to know more about Al-Kassim as she shares her thoughts ahead of graduation.
What are your thoughts as you near graduation?
Al-Kassim: “I'm really excited. It's definitely a transitional period, but it's something that I've been really looking forward to, and now that it's happening, I'm like, OK, you know, it's very scary, but it's definitely something that I'm looking forward to, and I'm really excited to see what's next for not only myself but my peers and my friends.”
What made you decide on social work?
Al-Kassim: “When I was working as a nursing assistant, I remember I had this client, or this patient, I should say, and he really wanted to just have someone just to talk to, and more on a mental health basis. And I really tell everyone that I walked out of that room a different person than I walked in. Because when I walked out of it, I was like, ‘OK, yeah, I definitely want to work more in the mental health field.’
“My parents are from the Middle East, and seeing how difficult it is to transition to a new culture and a new environment made me really want to work in the refugee and international law field and humanitarian law. That's the kind of social work I really love, the humanitarian law and the humanitarian field. Right now, I'm an intern at the Federal Defense Office, so really looking at the judicial system and the criminal justice system is really, really interesting.
“Being able to be in a field where you can go the medical route, you can go the therapy route, you can go the school route, you can go the older adults route, children's route, international route. You can do so much with social work. You can do law.
“It's really a gateway degree where I feel like I'll never get bored and I'll never hit a wall. I feel like there are so many open doors with social work, and that's something that really inspired me to not only get into this field, but stay in this field and be passionate about it.”
Is there a School of Social Welfare memory that will stay with you?
Al-Kassim: “I say this every time. My favorite thing about my classes are the conversations we get to have over anything. My peers are some of the most intelligent people I've ever met in my whole entire life, and I'm so grateful to be around them every single day because each one of them brings something inspirational and new to the conversation and to the table. When we're having discussions, it's one of my favorite things, and I always remember them, and I always stick to them in the way I look at my ethics and look at why I'm in social work. It is because of the people surrounding me and their inspiration.
“And what will stick with me is the discussions that we have in class about any subject. You can bring us any subject, and we'll find a way to discuss it and find the roots that connect to social work and social justice, and everything that has to do with social work as a whole, and social justice and creating that safe environment for people to be able to talk about what they truly feel is so important."
What stood out to you about the BSW program?
Al-Kassim: “All of the professors have been so amazing and inspirational for my education. You can tell that they are so passionate about what they're teaching. That, to me, is an amazing program that curates amazing social workers.
“I’ve never felt more connected to my education, because my professors are connected to the education. They're connected to what we're learning. Having those people with real backgrounds, and being able to tell us straight up, this is how it's going to be, brings a realistic approach to our education, where we can see what's really happening in social work. It's not sugar-coated for when we graduate. We know how the world works because of what we're learning and who we're talking to.”
What are your aspirations for your social work career?
Al-Kassim: “My goal is to work within systems of international humanitarian social work and law, and work in refugee camps and creating spaces where those who are less fortunate in having the privilege that some of us do, are able to have their voices heard. Whether that is having conversations about mental health and making sure that they're aware that their mental health is so important. Whether that’s in criminal justice, whether that's in refugee camps, or whether that's in a private office. My goal is to never stop learning."
What opportunities has the School of Social Welfare opened up for you?
Al-Kassim: “Definitely opportunities for networking and putting myself in positions where I'll be able to shadow other social workers. Within my practicum, I work at the Federal Defense Office, and I go to Leavenworth Penitentiary. I speak with those pre-trial, I speak with those in the prison system right now, and really try to understand why they did what they did, and create mitigation factors for the attorney to bring for the judge. It's really interesting to learn about the justice system in the social work aspect, because I didn't know that was a thing until now.
“That's another thing that I'm interested in and seeing how I can mesh all that in and really work within UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders, those have been my two nonprofit organizations that I've been wanting to work with, and so I'm hoping that after graduation, KU and where I'm going to get my master's, will help me with the networking process to get to that those places where I want to work in those organizations.”