Personal Statement 2013

December 1, 2013

David W Coon’s Personal Statement 

for the School of Social Welfare (SSW)

 I was put on this earth with a special combination of talents and abilities that makes me different from anyone who has ever lived. I am meant to use my talents and abilities to be a social worker and help others. I have a lot to offer the School of Social Welfare and our community as a social worker. 

How I have helped other people and why it will make me an excellent social worker.

I have served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, an organization that is designed to help the world, the United States and the local community. I served for six years with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. I faithfully did my Aviation Logistics MOS (military occupational speciality) job supporting the Marines in the Global War on Terror. One weekend a month, two weeks a year in Newburgh NY. I am committed to the Marine (still in the) reserve for another two years. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 from Newburgh NY is where I served my six years as a Marine Reservist. This Marine Aviation Logistics job is what I did on my 9 month deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2008 ( you say 2009 above). I lived and worked in the desert providing logistic support to five fighter squadrons fighting the War on Terror in Operation Enduring Freedom. 

  I also regularly provide (do) community service voluntarily teaching at the Saratoga Senior Center. I primarily teach piano, but I also help seniors with anything computer related questions or needs..( I)  My favorite class to teach is the personalized “Google Tutorial.  In this class I walk students through a number of the internet’s best free products, including Google Voice, a free internet phone. I assume people I work with as a social worker could use products like a free phone. (I teach people how to utilize all the great free resources online, as well as teach basic computer skills. But my passion is teaching piano. I wrote my own methods and music theory piano book that I use for my lessons . I plan to continue teaching piano for the rest of my life. I love to teach it, because it’s complex and intricate and it teaches people something they want to learn. I teach people something they want to learn, and it teaches them something creative and enriches their lives. 

But what really will help me as a social worker is the experiences I have with the help I have received.

How I have received help and why it contributes to why I will make an excellent social worker. 

I have received help from many doctors over the years for my struggles with ADD. I have navigated the VA healthcare system, working with many different social workers along the way.  I have received help for substance abuse, homelessness and employment problems. This has given me a unique perspective (and) as I’ve improved as a human being. 

I have struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) my whole life. This has greatly impacted my life, everything from my undergraduate GPA to my attempt to self medicate by drinking. I finally found the right medication combination from a private NPP (Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric). However medication alone does not cure ADD. I believe that a strong life coaching and counseling component is necessary to help individuals with this disorder. With the right help, people with ADD can (and will) succeed and reach their potential.  I have seen the way the VA treats patients with this special disorder, and it is not good. This is something that I can help with. I want to study more ways to help people with ADD and be an ADD specialist/counselor (someday that specializes in ADD treatment.  I have studied this topic extensively and I have written much on the subject. More details about original research and treatment methods can be be found at my websites. The SSW is the next step, now I want to be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to gain more experiences in the real world.

The experience of being a homeless veteran for a period of time has taught me a lot. I learned what it’s like personally going through the VA Healthcare System systems by being on the inside. I learned what works and what doesn’t. I experienced good social workers and bad ones. I observed the practices and policies that I was subject too, and took the opportunity to learn more about how our society treats people with addiction problems (substance abuse of the main thing the VA wanted to treat me for, not for my underlying problem).  Even when I was hard on my luck, I saw the chance to learn. After graduating as a sociologist from SUNY Albany in 2007, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve to continue my education as a social scientist. I figured there was no better way to learn about the government then to join it. Now I have all this great experience to share, and I will use what I learned in the Marines and by being part of the system afterwards to help everybody I encounter as a social worker.  I have the experience of being in need and the experience of helping people and serving my country, combined with a good foundation study of sociology at SUNY Albany.  I’d like to take this package and apply it to a degree in social work.

Why SSW Now?

Now is the right time. I have learned from my mistakes, and overcome my own struggles. Sometimes it takes one to know one, and having been there and gone through my own recovery, I am even more suited to work with people with addiction problems as a social worker. I know what to look for and how to help others in need. I want to be part of the the positive change in the system that treats people with these problems. I specifically want to be part of the progress at the VA. I have ideas to improve the system so that veterans in the future don’t have to deal with the same problems that I had to. I am also interested in treating vets with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), addiction and recovery and mental health problems in general. I am ready to really start my career. Fall 2014 SSW is where that begins. 

 Being a LCSW is what I am meant to do with my life. It took me a long time to get to this point where I am absolutely sure about what I want to do with my life. I am certain about who I am and what I want to do. My purpose is to help and serve others, and to share lessons I’ve learned from my mistakes and successes. I am a lifetime student- dedicated to always learning and growing.  I strive to take the most out of each situation life gives me. These personal development skills I will take with me and share as a LCSW. 

I am very excited about the field experience I will get in SSW.  I will treat each and everyone I meet (or am assigned to help) individually to the best of my abilities. Each person I meet I will do everything I can to help with all my heart and energy. I can’t wait to start!

Going back to school is also a great chance to me to to continue to work out some of my many social scientist postgraduate original research projects  I am a web designer/builder. I have created hundreds of web pages, which boils down to a dozen pretty decent original domains. All websites are original concepts that delivers ( or will deliver) useful content. 

What serving in the military has taught me and why it will make me an excellent Social Worker

I learned how to lead Marines in war and at home. I learned a special kind of discipline that you can only learn from the 237 year old culture of war (USMC founded 1775). This training has taught me many things, all of which share a common theme of leadership, teamwork, honor, courage and commitment. This culture breeds a brotherhood that never leaves a Marine behind and is always faithful to the Corps and to each other, no matter what. This spirit and these lessons that the USMC has taught me is now part of me, and can never be taken away. I will bring this never give up spirit and attitude to the world of social work. 

Other life lessons  and how these will help me to be an excellent Social Worker 

In my post graduate civilian life, I have continued my own work as a Sociologist.  My goal is to help my fellow citizens in any way I can. I am tremendously interested in mental health help and counseling. My focus is on “Strength Based Addiction Therapy and Recovery” including all types of mental illness field diagnosis (where I find people in the real world who need mental health help and I give them referrals to professionals) for all types of mental health problems including drug and alcohol use and abuse. I have already met more than a few people with undiagnosed mental health problems, and I help them identify what’s wrong and got them to see the (people) professionals they needed. I still have much to learn, that is one reason why SSW is the right place for me.  

I am not proud to report that I have struggled with alcohol and I have gotten three DWIs in the past 10 years. I good part of this is that I have learned so much from these experiences, and it has made me a stronger and better person as a result. I no longer drink at all. I also attend AA meetings weekly. These experiences dealing with the legal system and going through the VA rehab will ultimately make me a better social worker because I have personally experienced the kind of things that the people I want to work with will be going through. 

Community work and entrepreneurial work:  And finally, I proudly started my own teaching business. I teach beginner piano lessons, at My Music In Color BEGINNER PIANO SCHOOL.  This has given me some great experience working with a wide variety of people. The methods book that I have written I use during my lessons. Writing this book has taught me a lot about how to teach and what works. The other subject I teach is ESL (English as a Second Language) at The Online Tutoring School. I have the basics of Spanish, French and Japanese down enough to effectively teach English. Teaching useful information to people is something that I am passionate about. And these projects are natural expressions of the kind of work I want to do with my life. These skills will be useful as a social worker. 

Closing:  I would be absolutely thrilled to have the privilege to call my graduate school the SSW SUNY Albany. I still have a lot to learn and the SSW curriculum is perfect for me. I am eager to get back in the classroom again and will dedicate myself to being the very best student I can be. The GI Bill grants me the opportunity to study full time to focus all my attention to my school work. 

I still have much to learn, and I am very eager to do so. The SSW is the perfect next step for me. I thank you for considering me for the opportunity for go to your fine school. 

Semper Fidelis (USMC motto - Always faithful). Honor, Courage & Commitment 

I firmly believe in marijuana legalization, and ending the social stigma of smoking marijuana. All the social and economic consequences of the marijuana legalization have been consider. I know I am years ahead of time on this, because I know it could be ten years before marijuana is legalized in the US. I am going to be part of this movement, and be there at the forefront for when it finally happens. 

As a sociologist I have study this marijuana culture first hand. I have seen it! It doesn’t matter if you know about it or not, it is still there. I know literally hundreds of people that smoke. It is everywhere. It is only a matter of time before it is going to be legal and the tyranny and oppression end. 

You are not to judge them on their life choices. I believe that marijuana is a medical alternative and a personal choice.  (I was originally going to be a philosophy major, I learned what liberty really means.)  

Facts based in Science, logical, intelligent, moral and economic arguments to end the War on Drugs. Enough is enough. Liberty will prevail.