Welcome! My name is Nesley Bravo. I am an undergraduate senior at the University of Washington. This academic year I will be attaining my Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare, with Interdisciplinary Honors, and a minor in Education, Learning and Society. As a product of immigrant parents and being a first- generation college student, I am driven to address educational disparities and to practice through a strengths-based and systems lens. My passions lie in continuing dialogue on power, privilege and systematic oppression to raise awareness on the responsibilities individuals have in breaking down societal systems built on oppressive histories and practices. In August 2015, I will be continuing my education at Washington University in St. Louis for my Master in Social Work. I hope to continue my learning abroad and to eventually attain a Ph.D to share my learning at the University level as a professor.
Where the Intersections Lie
In the world of social work, we are taught a number of
theories to utilize when working with clients—systems, psychodynamic, conflict
and social learning. Systems theories are a personal favorite as they emphasize
reciprocal relationships between elements that constitute a whole. An emphasis
exists on the relationships between individuals, groups and communities
mutually impacting each other.
When working with students I look for systems and factors that create the individual I see in front of me. Whether it be the possibility that systems theory has taken over my lens on how I break down life or my fondness of how everything is connected to create holistic pictures, I see my undergraduate experience at the University of Washington broken down into a systems map.
My freshmen year, I came into the university bringing in my identities as a first-generation college student that was provided the opportunities to further explore my identities in the world of academia. Through courses, I have challenged myself to step outside of the known and explore courses I might find passion in, instead of feeling stable as a LSJ and Business major pursuing corporate law. These explorations brought me full-circle in the world of education as I began working with the Dream Project and volunteered to empower potential first-generation college students like myself.
As I continued pursuits in the education field during my second year of college, my family system of mental health problems inspired my social justice lens in looking for ways to approach practice through holistically supporting identities of individuals in their varying systems. My involvement in the start of the student organization Huskies for Suicide Prevention Awareness created an outlet for this passion. Ultimately, my commitments to social justice through education and mental health led to my membership as a student in the School of Social Work.
As a junior entering the School of Social Work, a new system was added to my eco-map. My identities and passions combined together to lead to my new identity as a social worker. My skills set classes began to rewire my socialization and transform the way I viewed the world as I continued on in my cultural diversity and intergroup dialogue courses. I was able to apply these skills in the field, particularly in the Dream Project as a transitioned into a seminar lead. Content on Seattle’s housing covenants from an education course led to my creation and facilitation of the Dream Project seminar, Oppression Through Policy in which the housing covenants provided explanations to the current demographics of our schools. I further explored my interests through research conferences and volunteer work.
That overlapping circle in the middle of my systems have created who I am as an individual and capsule my final year at the UW- a practicing social worker who develops programs, explores best practices through research, builds community through intergroup dialogue and provides a critical eye in the field. As a leader in community impact, I have developed an understanding of my leadership skills through the Husky Leadership Certificate and as a Mary Gates Scholar. These four years of overlapping identities and systems have led to this holistic picture of who I am today. My classes have informed my practice, and my involvement in the community has created outlets for my social justice passion and love for learning.
Through my Dream Project seminar and Intergroup Dialogue, I have realized that my calling lies in the realm of social justice and education, initiating and facilitating dialogue among students through programs. I also plan to continue working in college access and researching gentrification in communities. I will be continuing this work at Washington University in the MSW program this August. With a focus in Urban Education and Community Development, I will be working as an MSW Research Fellow in Civic and Community Engagement. I look forward to continuing my journey as a life-long learner.
When working with students I look for systems and factors that create the individual I see in front of me. Whether it be the possibility that systems theory has taken over my lens on how I break down life or my fondness of how everything is connected to create holistic pictures, I see my undergraduate experience at the University of Washington broken down into a systems map.
My freshmen year, I came into the university bringing in my identities as a first-generation college student that was provided the opportunities to further explore my identities in the world of academia. Through courses, I have challenged myself to step outside of the known and explore courses I might find passion in, instead of feeling stable as a LSJ and Business major pursuing corporate law. These explorations brought me full-circle in the world of education as I began working with the Dream Project and volunteered to empower potential first-generation college students like myself.
As I continued pursuits in the education field during my second year of college, my family system of mental health problems inspired my social justice lens in looking for ways to approach practice through holistically supporting identities of individuals in their varying systems. My involvement in the start of the student organization Huskies for Suicide Prevention Awareness created an outlet for this passion. Ultimately, my commitments to social justice through education and mental health led to my membership as a student in the School of Social Work.
As a junior entering the School of Social Work, a new system was added to my eco-map. My identities and passions combined together to lead to my new identity as a social worker. My skills set classes began to rewire my socialization and transform the way I viewed the world as I continued on in my cultural diversity and intergroup dialogue courses. I was able to apply these skills in the field, particularly in the Dream Project as a transitioned into a seminar lead. Content on Seattle’s housing covenants from an education course led to my creation and facilitation of the Dream Project seminar, Oppression Through Policy in which the housing covenants provided explanations to the current demographics of our schools. I further explored my interests through research conferences and volunteer work.
That overlapping circle in the middle of my systems have created who I am as an individual and capsule my final year at the UW- a practicing social worker who develops programs, explores best practices through research, builds community through intergroup dialogue and provides a critical eye in the field. As a leader in community impact, I have developed an understanding of my leadership skills through the Husky Leadership Certificate and as a Mary Gates Scholar. These four years of overlapping identities and systems have led to this holistic picture of who I am today. My classes have informed my practice, and my involvement in the community has created outlets for my social justice passion and love for learning.
Through my Dream Project seminar and Intergroup Dialogue, I have realized that my calling lies in the realm of social justice and education, initiating and facilitating dialogue among students through programs. I also plan to continue working in college access and researching gentrification in communities. I will be continuing this work at Washington University in the MSW program this August. With a focus in Urban Education and Community Development, I will be working as an MSW Research Fellow in Civic and Community Engagement. I look forward to continuing my journey as a life-long learner.