My name is Abby Rose. I grew up in the Johnstown area and attended the Westmont School District. I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and will be starting my junior year in the fall. I did classical ballet with the Johnstown Concert Ballet and the Allegheny Ballet Company for thirteen years, along with being a part of Westmont’s swim team my junior and senior year of high school, and their tennis team my senior year. My future goal is to earn my Master’s in Social Work, and pursue my career in helping people in need.
Before beginning my internship here at Catholic Charities, I was unsure what to expect. Not only did I not know what kind of situations I would be put in, but I did not know what to expect from myself. Although I was very eager to begin working and gaining experience in the social service world, I had never been put into a situation of crisis in a professional setting. After spending the summer with amazing, patient coworkers who took the time to teach me from their personal experiences, I am confident that going into Social Work is the right career path for me.
Having an inside look into people’s lives – whether they were homeless, in need of financial assistance, in need of basic-need items like deodorant or clothing, or just simply searching for a listening ear – made me realize even more that I have a passion for helping people. I am extremely grateful for my coworkers for sharing their advice for going into the Social Work field, for patiently walking me through prescreens and intakes, and for taking the time to explain the reasons behind why we, as social service workers, do the things we do.
As I was searching for a Bible verse to use in our volunteer program brochure, I came across 1 Peter 4:10. It reads “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” I believe it is my calling to serve others in need. I will always be grateful for the opportunity Catholic Charities provided me with, and I will take everything I learned into my career as I continue my studies at The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work.
