Hello. My name is Eli Breden. I am a second-year, part-time, advanced standing, Master of Social Work student. I chose social work because of my experiences as a volunteer and employee at Camp Millhouse, a camp for children and adults with disabilities in South Bend, IN. I love working with our campers and decided I wanted to do that as a career.

With my degree, I will be better able to advocate for clients with disabilities. I am most passionate about learning new ways to work with people with disabilities. Academically, I have gained an interest in macro social work like policymaking. This past summer I worked at Camp Millhouse as their special jobs director. However, due to COVID-19, we do not have any campers at camp. We are sending camp to their homes as Camp-in-a-Box. We developed six weeks of activities, camp snacks, and videos for campers to enjoy at home with their families and staff.

Lessons Learned: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s a good practice now to help you be a better advocate for your future clients. Also, seek help from other department staff like your academic advisor or program director.

Favorite Quote:
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” –Rosa Park