Izzy Meilach is a sophomore majoring in Social Welfare and Legal Studies from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Learn more about Izzy, one of our amazing undergrads, in this Q&A feature!

What has been one of your favorite college memories so far?

My favorite college memories so far have been getting to be a part of a learning community and making lifelong friends who share similar interests with me. Additionally, I had the privilege of studying abroad in South Korea this summer and made even more unforgettable memories through the Global Gateway program. My favorite memory in South Korea was getting to learn more about Buddhism, their culture, and history. A final amazing memory that comes to mind was getting to hear Ruby Bridges’ fireside chat last semester.

What do you hope to do after college? 

I hope to be involved in the criminal justice system and work with children in the system in some capacity — either as a family court attorney with a focus on domestic violence and sexual abuse committed against children, a guardian ad litem who represents children in court, or a social worker who focuses on helping children and their families navigate the criminal justice system.

Why did you choose a social work major?

I chose a social work major because it encompassed a variety of topics that I had interest in, and it felt like a perfect fit for me in terms of how I could see myself helping people and becoming an advocate for people. My roommate my freshman year was a social welfare major and I described to her that when I grew up, regardless of what profession I decided to do, I simply wanted to help people in any capacity I could. She described to me that I might like social work and social welfare as my major, and I signed up the semester after that for an introductory social work class. From the first day in that class, I immediately knew I made the right decision, and I felt myself very drawn to the work that social workers do to help people, as well as the community aspect of the profession that I admired greatly. Social work has a lot of similarities with my interests in legal studies, and the two majors fit very well together, which has allowed me to be a better well-rounded student in both fields.

How would you describe your experience in the social work program so far?

I would describe my experience as very positively engaging. The social work community hosts many events and workshops for undergraduate students to attend and talk about issues that I believe are very relevant and important to the fields I would like to explore and potentially go into. Not to mention all of the social work classes I have taken so far have all revolved around an element of guest speakers which has allowed me to learn even more about what the actual profession looks like outside of the classroom. All of my professors and the social work staff have been extremely helpful and are always willing to meet and talk to students even if it doesn’t necessarily include specific course material. It’s a very hard profession to go into but also a very welcoming one, and I have always felt respected and included during my time in social work classes and events.

What has been your favorite course in the program so far and why?

My favorite course in my social welfare major has been my interpersonal violence social work class (Social Work 623). Not only is the class amazing, but it is the first social work class that I have taken that wasn’t a required introductory-level social work class for my major. This class has allowed me to narrow my focus on social workers who deal with interpersonal violence specifically, which is something I am interested in, as I want to work with children who have experienced interpersonal violence in the future. Although I haven’t completed the course yet, I find myself always excited to learn, and the more time I spend in the classroom, the more I realize how important interpersonal violence is and how if we simply increased education on the topic, we would benefit so much more as a society.

What would you say to someone considering this major?

I would say if you are very passionate about helping people in any capacity and care about advocating for others, you should consider social work. Social workers are in more places than you would think, and they do a lot more than is given credit for. One of my classes once described social workers as superheroes, and I couldn’t agree more. If you want to be with people and have a strong sense of empathy and compassion, this might be your ideal profession, and even if it isn’t, it’s 100% worth looking into simply from a community aspect alone. You will learn a lot and get to meet many people in the field who are making amazing differences in their communities every day simply by being themselves and helping others.

What’s something on your bucket list and why?

One thing on my bucket list is to spend a semester abroad. I am not entirely sure what program I would be interested in doing, but I am hoping to go somewhere in Europe, ideally London. I love travelling, and I am constantly updating my bucket list to include places I have never been before. A semester abroad sounds like an absolute dream to me and definitely an ambition of mine! I love learning about different cultures and meeting new people and I want to continue to do that.

Is there anything else that you’d like to include? 

I really appreciate being nominated for this amazing opportunity to bring more awareness to social work and how it has positively impacted and influenced my life and certainly the lives of many others! 🙂