My Journey to Social Work: Priscila Hilligus
NASW-NC would like to introduce you to the 2014-2015 NASW-NC Board of Directors.
Each of our amazing board members chose the profession of social work for a reason and we would like to share their stories with you. Stay tuned for a post about each of the social workers who represent YOU on the NASW-NC Board.
Priscila Hilligus, MSW Student
Coastal District Representative
I started my journey to social work without realizing it. When I moved to the US from Brazil, where I grew up, I experienced the hardships of culture shock and prejudice. My early experiences as a member of the out-group, coupled with motherhood, and marriage into the challenging military lifestyle led me to seek therapy as a way to rediscover and redefine myself. The more I discovered about myself, the more curious I became about how the person and the environment interact to design our experiences and to make us the unique individuals we are. My therapist was a social worker, of course, and our work together opened my mind to the field. Social work has allowed me to embrace my ethnic identity and to encourage others to explore their inner-selves as a path to growth. It has also helped me to see the world through a more compassionate lens and to engage people and systems for change.
Priscila is a current MSW Student at East Carolina University.
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Learn more about the NASW-NC Board of Directors and what NASW-NC does for the social work profession in North Carolina
Learn more about past and present NASW-NC Board Members.
NASW-NC Social Work Blog 