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The rapidly growing elderly population is becoming a serious
social problem in many countries. Some countries have been
successful at finding solutions for this problem but others
have not. Japan is one of the latter countries. Although Japan
has one of the highest life expectancy rates and a reputation
for good quality of life for its elderly population, it has
been unsuccessful at addressing this problem. Compared to
other industrialized countries, Japan lags behind in programs
for elders who are physically disabled, bedridden or in need
of long term care. The current economic crisis is exacerbating
this situation as the government is cutting funding for elder
programs. This problem resonates deeply with me, and I hope
to someday work on finding a solution. It is for this reason
that I am applying to the graduate program in social work
at Boston University: I seek the skills and knowledge I need
to return to Japan and work for a social work service.
My interest in the elderly dates back to my childhood. Growing
up with my grandparents greatly influenced my values and personality:
they taught me to be self-motivated and disciplined. Their
resilience and support has helped me to persevere even when
confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Because
of their kindness toward me I have a deep respect for them
and for elderly people in general. This is what motivates
me to become involved in the field of social work.
Traditionally in Japanese society, the care of one's parents
is believed to be the children's duty. After World War II,
such traditions have evolved due to changes in family structure.
No longer is the eldest child the only one to inherit his
parent's property, and two-income families have become the
norm. These changes have left Japanese people at a loss as
to how to care for their aging parents. The current response
to this problem seems to be hospitalization.
Families increasingly hospitalize their elders who are physically
disabled, bedridden or in need of long-term care. These individuals
are usually transferred to nursing homes, but because of sparse
accommodations and a one to two year wait list, they end up
staying with family members who are often ill equipped to
care for them. As a result, there are a number of incidences
of elder abuse by family members and elder suicide. Also,
there are many other elderly people who live alone -- every
year, many of them die with no one, not even their family
members, having knowledge of their death.
Currently there is no social welfare program in Japan that
offers assistance to these elders and their families. In the
light of these terrible problems, the need for such a program
is obvious. My interest in social work is to find ways to
develop and improve the types of services available to the
elderly in Japan at a systematic level. I want to be involved
in the organizing, managing, developing, shaping and planning
of social policies related to the elderly. I believe the social
work program at Boston University will allow me to do that.
By studying macro social work at Boston University, I will
learn about established social systems, assessment and intervention
strategies. In addition, Boston University's emphasis on urban
issues appeals to me immensely. As I will be returning to
work in Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, graduate
work in this area will better equip me for the challenges
I will be facing. To me, an urban mission is a commitment
to identify and find solutions to issues faced by urban areas.
I believe I am well prepared for graduate work. During my
undergraduate study, I acquired the necessary background knowledge
by taking advanced courses in the areas of psychology and
sociology, including sociological research methods, social
theory, statistics, psychological research, and psychotherapy.
Along with these courses, I had an internship at the Asian
Task Force Against Domestic Violence, a non-profit organization.
I also volunteered at Sawayaka-en, a nursing service, and
Asunaro Children's Mental Hospital in Japan. From this internship
and my volunteer work, I have gained practical experience
which I feel will contribute to my academic and professional
success.
I expect the graduate work at Boston University to be demanding,
challenging, and ultimately rewarding. I look forward to the
experience from an intellectual as well as social point of
view -- I hope to learn and grow as an individual and a macro
social worker. I hope that I will be allowed to do so at Boston
University.
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