Raised to Serve: How Lyndsi Carlson Chapin Found Her Calling Through Social Work
Serving others has always been important to social work student Lyndsi Carlson Chapin. From a young age she was taught to serve others and give back to her community. Growing up, she always found joy in learning about and celebrating others’ stories. Lyndsi's passion for building relationships, offering encouragement and standing beside people at their most vulnerable moments is the backbone of her success in the world of social work.
“I love getting to love and care for others,” Lyndsi said. “I was blessed to grow up with parents who valued service, empathy and justice and invited my sisters and me into their efforts to serve marginalized and oppressed populations through their work as lawyers.”
Born in Belton, Texas, Lyndsi and her family made sure to prioritize giving back, which instilled the importance of service in Lyndsi at a young age. Her passion for others is the reason why social work has been her natural “calling.” After learning about social work, Lyndsi was convinced she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to commit herself to aiding and advocating for others.
“Social work is unique in that it is a helping profession that dedicates itself to building relationships with vulnerable populations and people in need to support them, encourage them, empathize with them and champion them. I believe I am called to be a social worker and that I have the opportunity to stand in the gap for others, seeking to understand them and what they are walking through, and bring their stories to light,” Lyndsi said.
During her senior year of undergrad, Lyndsi was recognized as the 2024 BSW Intern of the Year, an honor highlighting her dedication, hard work and passion for the field. This recognition not only celebrated her personal success but also emphasized the importance of internships in shaping future professionals.
As a BSW student, Lyndsi interned for the Economic Opportunities Advancement Corportation (EOAC), where she assisted families through building relationships with parents, and provided encouragement and a safe place for children in the program.
“I walked away from my time at EOAC with gratitude for my co-workers who invested in me, the families I built relationships with, and the children who taught me much more than I could have imagined,” Lyndsi said.
One of her supervisors had this to say, “It could be hard coming into something that you have never done or experienced before, Lyndsi [did] it with grace, and I am so proud of her.”
Lyndsi said she was grateful for the opportunity she had to catch a glimpse into the world of social work through her internship and has been consistently reassured of her place in the social work profession.
“Getting to pour out so much of myself at EOAC was the most incredible experience and grew my heart for working with children and families,” Lyndsi said.
Lyndsi graduated in May 2024, and is now enrolled in the Garland School of Social Work's MSW program in the clinical specialization. This year, her internship has been with Midway ISD providing individualized counseling each week for 12 students. She has also collaborated with students, parents, teachers and staff across eight MISD elementary campuses to address and support students' physical, social, emotional and academic needs, providing crisis intervention as needed.
And just last week, she passed her LMSW licensing exam! Way to go, Lyndsi!
“My advice to future students entering into their first year of internship would be to invest in your place of work, but more importantly, the people at your agency,” Lyndsi said. “You have the opportunity to learn so much from your internship placement if you seek to prioritize relationships with your co-workers and being available for and present with your clients.”
Keep up the good work, Lyndsi. We are proud of the difference you continue to make. Sic ‘Em!