Graduating Student Spotlight: Lily Shine
Lily Shine spent extensive time driving around Kansas City when she first moved there in 2020. It hurt Shine down to her core to see people without homes lining the streets for entire mile-long blocks, and reminded her of similar experiences when she was younger.
Shine spent part of her childhood in areas with a high concentration of homelessness, wondering what could be done to help.
Shine, who will graduate in May with her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, has made it a life mission to tackle homelessness.
“Seeing homelessness would really sadden me,” said Shine, who will go into the Master of Social Work Advanced Standing program next semester. “Like, why? Why is that person on the street? Why can't we just give them a house?"
Shine called that her “kid logic.” But she still sees this as a goal, and that’s partly because she understands hard times.
Psychology was her first educational interest, but she dropped out of Kansas State University while struggling with financial hardships and having to work full-time. Shine spent time working to pay for housing and afford her own way through life. This time in her life inspired an interest in mental health.
Early in her Kansas City tenure, Shine met BSW student retention coordinator Amea Chandler. Well, she met with Chandler multiple times. Once before the global pandemic began in March 2020, and Shine decided that it wasn’t the time to start school again.
Another time, Shine met with Chandler but wasn’t inspired by online options because she enjoyed learning in-person. But finally, in 2024, Shine began in the BSW program as a junior.
“Amea is the most helpful person,” Shine said. “Amea always remembered me and had notes about the things we talked about.”
Through social work, Shine can take on the passions and interests that she’s had since she was little. From mental health services to homelessness, Shine is using her experience in the KU School of Social Welfare to work toward making a difference.
“A lot of mental and physical health issues are going on in communities that don’t have the resources,” Shine said. “People who don’t have a great start in life.”
Shine wants to stay in the KC metro area for the foreseeable future for this reason. She can’t be anyone but herself, and that means advocating for the homeless population until the issue is no more.
“I firmly believe that we can end homelessness in Kansas City with the right distribution of supports and resources for people who need them,” Sine said. “I fully intend to see this issue significantly reduced — if not fully resolved — within my lifetime.”