Meet Online MSW Alum Ava Margolis
Meet Ava Margolis, a recent graduate of Baylor's online MSW program. Ava has a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism but fell in love with mental health services while taking an abnormal psychology class at Lynn University in Florida. This ignited a passion that led her to pursue her master's in social work at Baylor.
Ava is a Licensed Master Social Worker at Oaks Family Counseling Center in Gainesville, Florida, where she works with children, teens, and young adults. One fun fact is that Ava was hired by this organization while she was in her master's program at Baylor. This allowed for a smooth transition into the workforce. Ava credits Baylor and her professors for encouraging her journey and shared these kind words.
“It still feels surreal being able to work with individuals clinically and be a part of their journey. It wouldn’t be possible without Baylor and professors like LeAnn Gardner,” Ava stated.
While it may be scary attending a university online, Ava shared that those fears were put to rest once she started her classes.
“MSW online program felt like I was actually in person. It was very interactive, with small classes and not many people on the screen. I felt like I got to know my professors very well and they were very good at building relationships and keeping us engaged,” Ava said.
Connection with other classmates is a large part of the online MSW program and has made an impact on Ava.
“It was cool to be able to connect with the professors but also my classmates," Ava said. "We would text a lot and call all the time to update each other about how our internships were going and to talk about class too. I am still friends with a few of my classmates.”
The most meaningful connections Ava was able to make were at graduation. After two years of online classes, she was able to meet her classmates at graduation and celebrate together.
“That was just one of the coolest experiences to go from seeing everybody on the screen for two years and being connected with them on social media to meeting them in person," Ava recalled. "It was a unique experience."
Ava's words of advice for future students in the Online MSW program are to, “keep an open mind, participate in class, get to know your professors because they want to know you. Take advantage of any opportunities that come your way because you are setting yourself up for the real world after your MSW program is complete."
We are proud to be a part of Ava’s story as she continues to impact the lives of those living in Florida! Keep up the good work Ava. We are rooting for you!
Explore and learn more about the Online MSW to take the next step in your career here!