As a senior at The Ohio State University at Mansfield, Missie Boyd has been working toward a degree in social work so she can make a difference in her community. Now, the 41-year-old from Mansfield has the opportunity to make a difference nationwide. Boyd has been chosen as one of 20 students from The Ohio State University to participate in the 2018 Ohio State College of Social Work Washington, D.C. Fly-in from March 20-23. She was selected from a group of exceptional students through a highly-competitive process.
“I am honored to get to represent Ohio State Mansfield in Washington, D.C. I feel like this is a great opportunity for me to learn about advocacy and my future as a social worker,” said Boyd.
During the fly-in, students from Ohio State team up with students from The University of Alabama and meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to advocate for three bills related to social work. The trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity and students will likely have the opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Senator Sherrod Brown. As the mother of a 12-year-old son who has autism, Boyd knows personally how advocacy and caseworkers can positively impact lives. Her son is one of the main reasons she chose to pursue a degree in social work at Ohio State Mansfield. She spent many years working alongside caseworkers to make sure her son received the quality care he required. The time and effort given by those caseworkers helped her realize she wanted to be able to advocate for others.
“I feel that by choosing social work, I am repaying all of the great caseworkers that we had in the past who helped me get my son to where he is today.”
As part of her studies in the social work program at Ohio State Mansfield, Boyd is getting hands-on experience. She is currently an intern at Abraxas Youth & Family Services in Shelby, Ohio. The facility provides treatment services for adolescent males who have experienced significant difficulty functioning in their homes, schools, and communities due to mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance abuse. Most of the youths placed at Abraxas have a history of trauma. Many have experienced sexual or physical abuse, the death of caregivers, or exposure to violence.
“I did not realize how much this internship would impact me. I have learned so much from the individuals I work one-on-one with at the facility,” Boyd acknowledged. “Some of them have been through a great deal. It has taught me that you cannot always judge a book by its cover.”
Boyd is also the president of the Best Buddies chapter at Ohio State Mansfield. The nonprofit provides opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The program pairs volunteers with a buddy who has a disability to provide them with a friend or mentor. It is one of the many ways Boyd is giving back to the community.
Boyd will graduate with her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in May and plans to continue her education to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work.
If you would like to help contribute to the fundraising efforts for the College of Social Work Washington, D.C. Fly-in go to https://buckeyefunder.osu.edu/project/7303.
Photo: OSU Mansfield
