Introducing... Hannah Auck, graduating 2009 social work major. She has been actively engaged in a variety of activies on campus and off. Hannah has an incredible servant's heart that longs to improve the lives of children in difficult situations. If anything reminds you of why you work at MVNU, let Hannah's story...

Why did you decide to attend MVNU?

When I started my college search in high school, I was looking for a college that had an intentionally Christian atmosphere with opportunities to serve, both in the local community and around the world. I found all that here at MVNU.

I am from a small town and found the small community aspect of MVNU attractive too. I quickly felt at home on MVNU’s campus, surrounded by people who know and truly care about one another. When looking at the social work program, I was excited to be in the field observing my very first semester of college.

What are you involved in on campus?

This year I am currently doing my senior social work practicum, and so I do not have as much time to be involved on campus as I have in the past. This year I was inducted into Alpha Chi, a national honor society. I have worked in the library all four years of college, including two summers. I am a regular participant in the CoSMO group SMILE. I have loved visiting the residents at Rose Garden almost every week during the past four years. Last school year I was president of Students With Concern, our social work club on campus. While I do not hold an officer position this year, I am still involved. This year I helped organize and lead a clothing drive on campus through the club that benefited House of New Hope, a foster care agency located in St. Louisville. It was exciting to see the campus community donate two carloads full of clothes!

Over the past couple of years, my heart has been with the children affected by domestic violence. My sophomore year, I began crocheting a baby blanket to donate to New Directions, the local domestic violence shelter. I had learned that many children come to the shelter with very few, if any, possessions. Many do not have a blanket, which is often a security object for young children. That same year, I began to meet with some friends to find a way to meet this need. My junior year, I began teaching students to crochet as part of Common Thread, a special project of Students With Concern. This is one special project that I still lead each week. Unfortunately, with my busy practicum schedule, I had to give up a couple of activities this year. The past three years I enjoyed being in the flute choir and pep band. I also had the privilege to lead a small group of freshmen girls the past two school years. 

How do you feel you are being prepared for your future?

I believe that I am being prepared well for my future. Over the past four years, my professors have always been very willing to help me understand concepts better, to help me make sense of experiences in life and in field, and to guide me through decision making and plans for the future. As I am about to graduate, I am starting to wonder if I truly did learn all that I needed to and if I am really prepared for whatever may be coming next. Even now, my professors are very encouraging. Working in the library, I have also had the opportunity to meet many staff members and professors outside of my major. Through conversations and example, I have definitely come away from these encounters feeling cared for and more prepared for the future.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about people. I love to meet people, to learn their stories and where they come from. I have a heart for kids and families, especially kids in foster care and families who experience domestic violence. It is my desire to serve others in any way I can.

What do you hope to do in the future?

As I think about my social work career and what I have been called to do, I find myself considering a couple of areas. The idea of working in foster care and adoption is what brought me to the social work profession. I want to see kids growing up in healthy, loving and strong families. I want children to be able to remain with their biological parents as much as possible, but when that is not possible, I want children to have the opportunity to be well cared for by loving foster and adoptive parents.

A couple of years ago I had a field observation at New Directions, the local battered women’s shelter. Working with children whose mothers have fled domestic violence really changed me. This is another area I would like to work in sometime in the future. Eventually, I really would love to be a school social worker. I have had the opportunity to shadow a school social worker for a day and have talked with a few others. I really like much of what they do and the impact they have on kids in a school environment. Outside of my career dreams, I hope to be very involved in my church and community and to someday have a family.

What has been your favorite thing in your time at MVNU?

I have had so many amazing opportunities, including the opportunity to develop some very special friendships. Even so, I think traveling to Hungary for spring break in 2008 is probably one of my favorite memories from the past four years. This trip was not my first trip out of the United States; however, it was my first time being in a country where I did not speak the language. I quickly fell in love with the people there and much of their culture. I learned so much on that trip. When we left the country after being there approximately one week, I struggled to say goodbye. My heart is still there and I would love to return someday.

What has been a challenge you have faced?

This year I am being challenged to manage my time wisely. I am trying to balance my senior practicum, my classes and homework, my current job, my job search and just finding the time to enjoy my last semester. I am also challenged to cope and live well with life’s unexpected events and surprises. For example, this past semester was book-ended by the death of two dear grandparents. This semester I also have had a few unexpected surprises and challenges at practicum. It has been a challenge for me to not let these events and a few others get me down. While this has been a struggle, I am learning to rely on God more when difficult situations arise.

How do you incorporate your faith into what you do?

I incorporate my faith into what I do mostly through actions. I am always looking for ways to live out my faith. I try to be encouraging to those around me; I treat people with dignity and respect. I look for ways to serve others and to meet people’s needs. I ask God for guidance and try to rely fully on Him in my daily activities. While I cannot openly talk about my faith with my clients, I have privately prayed for some of the clients and their situations.  Much of what I see myself doing in the future as a social worker lines up with the way I need to be living as a Christian and follower of God.

How do you want to change your world?

I want to be the type of person who sees a need and is able to find a way to meet that particular need. So many people lack hope, both hope for the future and the hope of Jesus Christ. I want to be someone that lives in such a way to help people find hope. If I can do something to change the life of even one or two people, I will have changed my world.