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“Social work is a calling to help people.”
All it took was a trip to Peru. Last year, Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Class of ’13 student Andrew Petersen chaperoned nearly a dozen 15-year-olds to the exotic South American nation. Prior to that journey, his aspirations ranged from hopeful philosopher to future athletic trainer. But in Peru, he spent days and nights talking with teenagers and gaining insight into the challenges of contemporary adolescence.
Immediately after returning and unpacking his bags, Petersen applied to GSSW and has dedicated himself to providing advocacy and support for troubled teens. But he’s also learned it doesn’t end there. “It’s not enough to work with the individual,” he explains. “You really need to be able to work with the family. And when I can work with the family and make some progress, it’s an awesome moment.”
This is Andrew Petersen’s story.
