Life… Post-Graduation
Hi, I’m Daniel Mango and I recently completed my MSW at BUSSW. This blog post is about my post-graduation plans. Like many, due to COVID-19 my original plan has changed. We are currently living in a world where everything looks different, doesn’t it? I want to inspire those who feel down, hopeless, or pessimistic about the future. But first, I’d like to recognize current events. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have impacted all of us and made it clear that social workers are needed if we want to make positive change across our nation and in our communities.
Paying Tribute
The COVID-19 crisis has touched so many lives and my heart goes out to everyone affected by the virus. I want to honor all the front-line workers who put their lives on the line daily. I also want to recognize all the service workers who are risking their lives to ensure that we can all eat, shop, and commute. All of you are truly heroes. We deeply appreciate you.
Lastly, to all the vulnerable communities that continue to get hit hard by this crisis because of the pervasive and insidious structural racism within our nation – we stand with you.
We will make it through this crisis. We need to continue to show compassion for all our fellow humans during this time — this will be the key to our survival. Let’s stay strong together.
Say Their Names
The tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have ignited the country. Millions of people around the world have had enough of the senseless violence against people of color in this country – especially against Black lives. Police brutality and systemic racism have remained unchecked for far too long in America. What you are seeing is the beginning of a massive change effort to ultimately end racism. Although this is only the beginning, I ask that all incoming BUSSW students remain vigilant and support the cause.
If you are white, I ask that you explore your privilege. What does it mean to be white in this country? What does your skin color and identity afford you in this country? You cannot wait – you cannot put this off. People of color continue to die; we don’t have a choice – we have to continue fighting or we will be erased. White people have a choice; you can join us or remain silent. To be silent, is to be compliant to this violence. We all must use our voices to uplift those who have been continuously silenced.
Black lives truly matter. Black trans lives matter. Black LGBTQ+ lives matter. Black women’s lives matter. Black men’s lives matter. Black children’s lives matter. All these lives matter. In just a short time, these recent protests have made change. Reforms are underway to defund the police and increase accountability – let’s not stop now. Join a rally, support Black business, and challenge those who refuse to change the status quo.
Lastly, I wanted to give a big thank you to Boston University for stepping up and making change. Ibram X. Kendi is joining the university and is starting the Center for Antiracist Research. This is huge because so many BU students over the years have fought so long and hard for change. BU will never be the same. This is a great start – let’s keep up the fight to end racism and police violence in America.
MSW Reflections
Well, this is the end – or is it? Although my MSW experience has come to a close, my social work career has just begun. It has been a wild ride y’all. Social work school really pushed me. It really stressed me. It really annoyed me. There were many ups and downs, wins and losses, trials and tribulations. However, despite all the bumps along the road, I truly did enjoy myself in school at BUSSW.
I won’t miss the assignments, but I will miss my comrades – those who stood in the trenches with me throughout my social work education. Many students, professors, and staff throughout BUSSW helped me along the way. Those who listened when I felt down; those who pushed me to do more and dream bigger; those who helped me navigate the bureaucratic waters of higher education administration. I am very thankful for these relationships and encourage incoming MSW students to forge their own relationships with students, professors, and staff.
I’ve accomplished a lot during my time in school. As the Lead Student Ambassador for the School of Social Work this past year, I had an awesome experience and spoke with so many potential students about their career aspirations. I helped increase the number of students of color at the School – which was a personal goal of mine.
I also worked with so many interesting people and communities. I was nominated for and won the NASW-MA’s “Future of Social Work” Award for 2020, which was amazing. I was a 2019-2020 AACTE Holmes Masters Scholar, which allowed me to go to Atlanta for an education conference. While there I visited the Civil & Human Rights museum which was a breathtaking experience that I recommend to everyone.
My Social Work Future
Now that I’ve graduated, I am focused on obtaining my social work independent licensure while working at the Department of Veterans Affairs to support veterans experiencing mental health issues and homelessness. As a veteran myself, I know all too well the struggles that my compatriots deal with on a daily basis and I want to help relieve some of their suffering. I will also continue to perform crucial macro-work within my local community.
Once you graduate from an MSW program you are eligible to apply for the social work licensure exam. The exam is different depending on the state that you live in, but generally speaking it is a two-part process. First, you can take the basic level social work licensure exam once you have an MSW. Then, you can apply for the independent license exam once you have been working in the field for a couple of years.
My ultimate goal is to become a social justice-oriented school principal. To realize this dream, I will begin my Doctorate in Education (EdD) this fall, with the intention of finding solutions to age old problems in education. My EdD has a social justice focus that will utilize and build upon all that I learned during my MSW. For me, education and social justice are inseparable, they go hand in hand. A school leader must operate through a social justice lens if they truly believe in equity in education.
Lastly, in the future, I hope to live and work in Africa. As a musician, a hip-hop education practitioner, and a social justice advocate, I believe in the power of music to heal and to liberate. I want to create artful resistance projects with oppressed populations to address the structural inequities that marginalized populations experience. The inspiration to combat all forms of oppression in the U.S. and abroad comes from some of my favorite activists and thinkers such as: Angela Davis, Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon, Paulo Freire, Assata Shakur, Cedric Robinson, and Aimé Césaire.
I would like to leave you all with some quotes that drive me and my work forward:
“The greatest humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves…”
― Paulo Freire
“No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them. Nobody is going to teach you your true history, teach you your true heroes, if they know that that knowledge will help set you free.”
― Assata Shakur
Toodles, See You on the Flippy-Flip
Finally, I would like to thank you all. I appreciate you taking the time to read this post. Good luck to all my fellow comrades. We are all the future of social work. Let’s go forward and disrupt. My passion to eradicate white supremacy drives me forward. White supremacy’s days are numbered. Together, we will annihilate this sinister ideology. All will hear the thunderous rumble of OUR feet, marching forward, towards freedom, towards liberation.
We are on the offensive and I ask you not to let up. Let’s come together to work towards the multi-racial, democratic, and equitable world that we all wish to reside in. And please, remember – if you feel alone, you are not. You have an army of supporters to rely on. If you get discouraged, reach out to each other, build each other up, and support one another. Much love to everyone. Peace.