CIS and UK 101 Interview Transcript

Interviewer: Ruth Niyonzima

Interviewee: Heather Dennehy
(Email Interview)
Heather Dennehy is an anthropologist who mainly travels around the world (wherever
she can go). She enjoys learning about peoples cultures, and also loves educating young girls
about life skills.
1.) What made you decide to do social work as your major? (If it is)
I wasnt actually a social work major. When I was doing my undergraduate degree, I
wasnt sure what kind of career I wanted to have. I used to think that I wanted to be a journalist
writing for National Geographic magazine, so I majored in anthropology and journalism. Well it
turned out that I liked my anthropology classes more than journalism. I loved learning about
different people, different cultures. After I graduated I really wanted to get out into the world and
to learn about other places, but to also feel like I was somehow contributing, trying to help where
I could. This led me to join the Peace Corps. It was from this experience that I had the chance to
work with a lot of young people. I became passionate about making sure that everyone had a safe
and healthy childhood and adolescence.
2.) What challenges about social work did you face the most while in school?
When I went back to school for my graduate degree, I thought about choosing social
work. But . I decided that I wanted to be able to work to support young people by changing the
policies and systems that dictate their access to health, education, and social services. So I got a
Master in Public Policy. The hardest part about that degree was building all of the necessary
quantitative skills, like taking economics and statistics. I didnt have a background in those
classes and it was a struggle for me to get up to speed. But I learned a lot! Now I work in health
policy at the Center for Disease Control working on violence prevention, including work on
youth violence and teen dating violence.
3.) Did you ever feel like social work wasn't what you wanted, and have second thoughts
about it?
I think its natural to have second thoughts about your career. Its scary looking forward
and not knowing what the next step is. Sometimes I think I should have gotten a degree that
might be marketable, have higher income potential, or that would align better to a specific career,
like an MBA. And sometimes, when things arent going the way you thought, its easy to
second-guess the steps youve taken . It can be overwhelming to see young people suffer, and
frustrating to feel powerless and unable to help. But even though you arent able to see things
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change immediately, it still feels rewarding to be able to be part of a system working for change,
to get to touch some lives along the way.
4.) Did you ever travel abroad to volunteer or do anything related to your major?
I have been very lucky in that Ive been able to travel abroad quite a bit. When I was in
undergrad I studied in France for a semester while I had an internship at the Council of Europe,
which is a humanitarian organization, and I was working on project that advocated for the right
of Roma children to a quality education. After I graduated I joined the Peace Corps. I spent two
years in Burkina Faso as a community health volunteer working in a small village. Then I spent
an additional year in Botswana working as a NGO capacity building volunteer, where I got to
work with the Red Cross Youth Center in Dukwi Camp. As part of my Masters degree, I did an
internship in Tanzania with the United Nationals Population Fund analyzing different funding
options for family planning work, and I did a research project back in Burkina Faso on womens
health care. I have been very fortunate in getting to travel and to learn about other cultures, to
make new friends, and to work towards helping improve health care for young people.
5.) Whats one thing you know about social work now, that you wish you knew when you
still in school?
One thing I wish I knew about working with young people earlier was that its important
to try to be more open and more connected. Im a naturally introverted person, so sometimes I
get shy and closed off. I think that makes it harder for young people to open up and to feel
comfortable. Its been a process for me to learn how to be more outgoing and to try to be more
relatable and engaged with young people.
6.) Have you ever worked in an orphanage? If yes, what was the hardest part about it? If
no, would you want to?
I havent ever worked in an orphanage but I would be very open to it. I have worked with
children that have lost their parents, that have gone through traumatic incidents, and who
struggle in systems that werent designed to support them. Throughout every experience, Ive
been impressed by how resilient and impressive the young people are. Given opportunities for
education and growth, they thrive and preserve through unimaginable odds. Its humbling and
awe-inspiring to be around these young people. And to just be one small part of a support
system, is very rewarding.
7.) How hard is it to be able to get a job overseas when you graduate?
It can be difficult to arrange some of the logistics of working internationally, finding visas
and things like that. But if you are willing to volunteer, or to work for a stipend, its much easier
to get a first position, and from there you can put yourself in a better spot to negotiate a salaried
job. The Peace Corps was a great chance to get to work abroad, and to have the US government
arrange all the logistics. Programs like that are great opportunities, and I would really encourage
all young people to really consider them.

8.) 8) Do you ever get emotional with your clients?

Of course! I m a very emotional person.. When other people are in pain, I can feel that
deeply myself. I think to some degree this is a good thing, because it motivates me to work to do
my best to help others. It can be draining though, and so its important to take breaks for selfcare, so that you dont let your emotions actually get in the way of helping others.
9.) What advice would you give to a college student who is trying to pursue a career in
social work?
I think the best advice would be to talk to someone that does it! Try to make a
connection with someone from your school or neighborhood or church group that is a social
worker and ask if you could shadow them for a day and see what their lives are really like. I also
have several friends who have degrees in social work, who also have other degrees. So I think
keep learning, and keep open to other experiences that might inform and enrich your social work
career, like psychology, sociology, anthropology, policy, etc., that might make you even more
marketable and help your professional development.
10.) If you could change anything about your career, what would it be?
I wish I could have a more direct role in shaping policy, in changing the things I see that
dont work, in making a difference. Working in the federal government, sometimes its hard to
push things forward and to see things change. Sometimes I think about actually running for
office, or maybe just in being in more of an advocacy position where I could lobby more
directly. Getting a chance to have more of a voice and more of an impact would be really
rewarding!