Valeriia Gusieva: Bachelor of Social Work
When Valeriia Gusieva read the commitment of Carleton’s School of Social Work to “social justice that is rooted in its founding of the structural approach to social work,” she knew she had found the right program.
“Unlike many of my classmates, I was interested in advocacy and policy versus direct practice,” says Gusieva, who appreciated the personalized care of the Social Work staff and faculty as she applied to the program and chose a minor in legal studies.
“Not only were the staff helpful, but I had a huge amount of mentorship from different professors,” says Gusieva. “Some were doing front-line work, others community organizing and others policy analysis. You got a little bit of everything when they brought their academic background and practical experience.”
Gusieva’s interest in policy was influenced by her work in the health care system, which she began at age 16 after arriving in Canada from Ukraine.
“I lived in Toronto and worked in health care, where I saw a lot of people from vulnerable communities not able to access a lot of things,” she recalls.
After her job placement with an Ottawa city councillor, Gusieva has applied for an internship on Parliament Hill and is considering a master’s degree.
She also has some advice for future students: “University can feel overwhelming, but Carleton has great student services that help you get through it. I encourage students to check out these services on their first day.”