Care giver:
Tragic loss early in life leads alum to social work
 

"It was so helpful for me to study in an environment in which academics and faith are integrated."

The tender age of 8 is just too early for the harsh realities of life—and death—to supplant the joys of youth, but that’s what happened to young Jacki Walter when she lost her best friend in 1985. Jacki’s sister, Jennifer, just 10 years old, died from injuries she suffered in a sledding accident in their hometown of Clare, Michigan.

The Walter family—Jacki, 12-year-old brother Jim, and parents Bonnie and Jim—was understandably devastated by the tragic loss.

“I remember that there wasn’t anyone to help my brother and me get through the death of our sister,” Jacki says. “We had our parents, of course, but they were dealing with their own grief. I think it was then that I decided I wanted to work in human services. I wanted to help other young people work through their problems.”

Jacki, a 1999 Huntington alumna, is now doing just that as a social worker at East Aurora High School in suburban Chicago.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Huntington, Jacki went on to complete a master’s in social work at Aurora University in 2001. The transition from student to professional social worker was a smooth one; Jackie served as an intern at East Aurora High during the second year of her graduate studies.

As a school social worker, Jacki provides social and emotional counseling, helping students cope with a wide range of issues such as divorce, death, personal relationships, and substance abuse. “I help them deal with anything that might have a negative impact on academics or their lives in general.”

It may be called social “work,” but to listen to Jacki, you wouldn’t think it’s any chore at all. “I absolutely love my job—I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she says. “Our school is in a very culturally diverse, low-income area where I’m a minority. But the kids don’t see that; they’re just happy to have someone who cares about them and will listen to them. They totally grab your heart. Kids today face so many trials.”

In addition to her duties at the school, Jacki leads the local chapter of Young Life, which reaches out to unchurched youth with fun ways to share the Gospel and offers Bible studies to students who already have a strong Christian background. Jacki also volunteers at a local homeless shelter.

Jacki developed her hearty zeal for helping people as an undergrad. She took part in mission trips to Haiti and Honduras and to homeless shelters in several U.S. cities. She also volunteered for weekly bingo nights at a Huntington nursing home via the University’s Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service.

“I chose social work from among the human services when I was at Huntington,” Jacki says. “The psych program at Huntington is fabulous, and everything I learned and experienced pertaining to psychology and my faith helped me grasp the materials and theories presented during my master’s studies. I couldn’t have been prepared better unless I’d gotten a bachelor’s degree in social work.”

Recently, however, Huntington University students are able to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work. The new program, started in 2005, will prepare students for entry-level positions with public and private agencies, graduate studies, and licensure.

“It’s exciting that Huntington has begun to offer a social work degree in a Christian environment,” Jacki says. “I know it was so helpful for me to study in an environment in which academics and faith are integrated.”

Jacki has a mild caveat for future Christian social workers. "Social work, in general, is very liberal, and as a Christian, you'll not only stand out, but you may also face conflicts between your work and your faith," she says. "but let your faith be your guide in all things, and people will ultimately respect you for that."