Celebrating the Class of 2024

“I interpret social work, ideologically, as a disruption of behaviors and practices that are dysfunctional to the wellbeing of a person and the welfare of society . . . As social workers, we are agents of change. Disruption does not have a solely negative intent. We disrupt psychological and societal homeostasis to recalibrate it towards greater safety and equity. NYU has given us access to theory and practices that challenge our own awareness and positions within subversive and oppressive institutions. We have been given a voice. Ask why? Inquire. Ignore distractions and deflections of the dominant power structures; they are meant to divert your focus, attention, and efforts. Good enough is not good or enough.”

“We must not forget our community who supported us along the way – including our families, given and chosen, our friends, our mentors and professors, many of whom will be in the audience as we graduate. Thank you, to those that guided us, who believed in us, and were pillars of support. These individuals are a testament to who you are, and who you will be. We must think of how we can support others, as they did for us, ensuring the love and care will continue for generations to come. We need each other, to nourish, to reimagine and to love. We need each other to create the difference we seek for our communities.”

“As we entered our social work programs, we may not have realized the true meaning of being social workers, or what we were really getting ourselves into. But through hard work, sacrifice, and humility, we can understand that being a social worker is a lifelong commitment. Unlike our contemporaries in other fields, we do not speak about the client in theory. We stand with the client through their challenges. What does it mean to be a social worker? It means doing the right thing when no one is looking. It means finding the strength to keep going when we are under-paid and under-appreciated. It means standing up for justice, even when it is not easy.”