To our social work professors, classmates, and various social work
supporters (the subject line is for you, Fred):

 As many of you know, the class of 2008 took the 14 program
objectives very seriously. We did our best to and continue to strive to be active
adult learners, and critical thinkers (among others). Many stories have been shared throughout our young social work careers that show how we have been achieving these 14 program objectives and often they get a response
like this (especially from Matt): Niiiiiiicccccceeeeeee (Marcus Barlow Sounding).Yet, some times, we get wrapped up in the brief vignettes about our strengths in program objectives 1 and 13 (critical thinking and
active adult learning) that we dismiss the many stories of our successes in the other 12 objectives. Today, I would like to share with you one of these seldom heard vignettes about our dear friend, and fellow social worker, Kendra Wicks. As many of us know, Kendra is currently getting her MSW from Wash U in STL (where Matt became Dr. Ringenberg and where Kool Kendre will become, Kendre Israel, MSW). Her internship is at Let's Start, a non-profit in the city of St. Louis where she works with women following addiction and incarceration. And it is at Let's Start, where this vignette takes place.....

Imagine Kendra being the awesome social worker that we know she is, standing there in what is arguably the best posture any of us has ever seen.When a client comes up to her and pokes her in the stomach and says, "girl
you're getting fat." Kendra, politely says "excuse me?" Again, her client says, "girl, you're getting fat." Kendra still a bit confused thinks back to the days she spent in Heidbrink room 123 and tells her self, I need to use my generalist practice social work skills right now, because I'm not 100% sure I understand what this girl is saying to me. And after another quick second she thinks to herself, "I've got it, I will use my trusty skill of clarifying." So, she says to her client, "When you say fat do you mean fat as in P-H-A-T or as in F-A-T?" Her client responds, "no, not phat, you look thick today." Kendra still a bit impressed with her self that she was able to be so awesome at achieving program objective 6 (Students will apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes), is unaware that her ability to achieve many of the other program objectives is also about to occur. Those including but not limited to: 1: Students will apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice; 3. Students will practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status,
national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation; 10. Students will use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities;13. Students will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with active, adult learning; and 14. Students will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with self-awareness, personal growth, and development) As this conversation played out, Kendra realized that she is not F-A-T, it was a cultural difference and that she is indeed, P-H-A-T. And for that, let me beat Matt to it and say, Kendra, NIIIIIIICCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEE (Marcus Barlow Sounding)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!