Lauren Sayes, Louisiana

My desire to become a social worker began during my Sophomore year of college. I became interested in addictions when I chose to study how the family affects addicts in a research project I did in college. While doing the project and reading the research, I quickly became fascinated with addictions - the chemistry of the addicted brain, the family system of an addict, how society misunderstands addiction, and addiction as a disease. Originally, I thought I wanted to be an addictions counselor, but after an internship at an Addictive Disorders Clinic during the summer before my junior year, I realized that I could do so much more and help so many more people with a MSW specializing in addictions. I want to help sick people every day, and addiction is one of the toughest diseases in the books. I want to help people overcome their disease and live happy lives.