Why I Chose my Master’s in Social Work at University of Galway

If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be doing a Master's in Social Work at the wind-beaten coast of Ireland, I probably would have squinted and gone, 'Where about, exactly, in Ireland?' This is because I am from Kampala, Uganda, where the weather is usually warm, and the traffic is crazy. But somehow, here I am in Galway with my raincoat on, coffee in hand and honestly, it makes more sense.

So why social work? Why this course?
Well, because I guess I have always paid attention to people, been curious about their lives and even the things they choose to carry around, however, not in a nosy way, more of an interest. Plus, back home, I saw plenty of resilience and also witnessed the results of the non-existent patchy support of systems, which left me admiring the resilience, but at the same time, being frustrated and angry at the system failures. This pushed me into wanting to be involved in the work that holds people up, but I did not just want to be well-meaning; I wanted to be trained and know what I was doing.

And that’s what led me to the search and finally landing on the Master's in Social Work at University of Galway. I remember it was 2:00 am when I was mindlessly scrolling through some programmes and their descriptions when one really stood out. Not because it was fancy or anything really, but because it was honest. It focused on the values of social justice and anti-oppressive practice, which align with my personal values, and it was not in a vague 'change the world' way, but in a way that sounds more grounded. It further stood out because it was not merely about asking, 'What do you want to do? But how will you do it and why that way?'

And the placements; two of them were huge yes for me because I did not want a death by theory type of degree. I wanted to interact with actual people in actual situations and learn how to show up awkwardly and imperfectly. Also, Galway itself? It is a bit of magic, even from just pictures and videos online. The way a city holds activism and art in the same breath intrigued me, and as a person interested in studying a course that deals with society’s toughest realities, that really mattered.

So no, I did not choose to do a Master's in Social work just to get a job. I picked it because it represents my values and pushes me closer to my passion for empowering people and challenging the systems that contribute to inequalities and social injustice. University of Galway makes that possible for me. As Angela Davis said, 'I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.'

It may not be easy. But it feels right.

Words and images thanks to Patricia, MA Social Work