As life hits students with obstacles, Cardozo welcomes a new member to the school’s family with her warm, welcoming heart, giving students a safe space to open up about themselves and their lives: Ms. Garcia, our new school social worker.
Ms. Garcia not only welcomes her mandated students to her office with open arms, but also any student who needs to be heard. Her cozy office gives students the escape they need. Not only is the setting comforting, but her personality, her calming voice, endless interest, and her openness inspire students to seek her out for support.
Ms. Garcia didn’t find Cardozo, but Cardozo found her. The school’s community was making its way into her life. “Oddly enough, my husband worked here during the summer, and I believed that because the school quickly became a part of our family, it only made sense to really start working here and step into the school community,” she explained.
When a social worker position opened up, she applied, interviewed, and, of course, she was hired. Ms. Garcia was actually amused by the size of our school when she first walked in. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is a large school, like a campus,'” she said. She found Cardozo lovely and overall, a huge school. Her first impressions of the school were all positive with her already having connections with the school to even the looks of the school.
However, adjusting and getting comfortable in a new community is something Ms. Garcia has not struggled with. “I think I’m adjusting well. It’s great to have a team to work with,” she explained.
“ISS has a lovely team of other social workers, and then it also helps that the school community, like the deans, are great to work with; my own AP, Melissa [Korotki], is great to work with.” She said that so far, Cardozo has been an extremely welcoming community.
Coming from a Nigerian background, there were high expectations of her to become a doctor, but instead, she decided to be a social worker. “Instead of studying the science of people, I decided to do the social science of people,” Ms. Garcia said.
With every career comes tough obstacles. “The hardest part about being a school’s social worker, I guess, is walking you guys through the stages of life in a way that you are learning from the challenges and obstacles and not feeling defeated by them.” Ms. Garcia is faced with getting students through their challenges with motivation, yet she faces them with kindness and understanding.
A school social worker differs from other school staff, as she has different responsibilities when it comes to students and her role in the school. “The difference is the down-to-earthness, the ability to be my authentic self, which is well-received by students’ responsibilities,” she explained. “I guess just having to meet with you guys weekly is my mandate, and having to find you in your classrooms or remind you to stop by the office is part of the responsibility.”
Many students have their own unique burdens, and Ms. Garcia finds a way to unravel and help the students navigate each one, helping their overall mental health.
“Mostly dealing with friendships and relations, their own identity, and discovering themselves,” she said, when explaining some issues her students are faced with. These years are most crucial to students, being introduced to new responsibilities and life lessons, and Ms. Garcia sees this as an opportunity to do what she does best: help the students of Cardozo in this sensitive state in their lives.
One important part about being a social worker is having an inviting environment so students will want to come to your office. “I think light background music is helpful,” Garcia explained. “A light calming room, with the light dimly lit helps to create a trusting atmosphere, there I say it is an intimate atmosphere, so students feel like opening up.”
With this space, she sets a comforting trusting atmosphere, which is important because her job is to listen to her students and she can’t do that if they don’t feel comfortable to open up.
“Even some of my students that aren’t mandated, they bring their own friends, and they also show up because they need someone to talk to,” she explained. Her office is open to her students and those who are not her students, which sets the tone even more for a trusting environment. Ms. Garcia always makes sure each and every one of her students are receiving the help they need to the fullest. With that, she looks forward to creating stronger bonds with everyone in the community.
“Deeper relationships with both students, family, and the community at large” is one of the goals Ms. Garcia has. She is here for all of the people of Cardozo.
