I first chose philosophy to better understand the world and to explore who I was within it. Philosophy trained me to think critically and logically, ask rigorous questions, seek evidence, and keep testing my own judgments. The pursuit of wisdom, truth, goodness, and beauty gradually became part of how I understand the world and relate to others.

COVID-19 became a turning point. The pandemic made me realize that thought alone does not automatically improve reality or respond to the needs of people around me. I no longer wanted only to understand problems; I wanted to enter practice and create an impact in real relationships and real circumstances.

Through student mental-health support and campus initiatives during the pandemic, I began to see the power of action: one conversation could reduce isolation, a clear referral could connect someone to help, and a more accessible service could change how many people found support.

That is why I turned to social work. For me, social work connects thought with action—taking an individual’s experience seriously while also examining how language, culture, public attitudes, and service systems shape whether someone can receive help.

Moving from philosophy to social work did not make me value reflection less. It changed how I understand the responsibility of reflection: what matters is not only seeing a problem, but being willing to enter reality and work alongside people toward change that is possible.