Oct. 8, 2018
By Chris Woodley, cwoodley@mailbox.sc.edu

New Jersey native Dominique Fay earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. She decided to remain in Columbia and is working towards earning her Master of Social Work, thanks to the college's Advanced Standing program.

Why did you decide to attend the College of Social Work?

I fell in love with the campus and the culture here. Everyone was kind and the campus was so beautiful. I chose social work as my major when I attended the first orientation and heard about the wonderful things social workers do in their career as well as everything the program offers.

What class has had the most impact on your social work studies?

I took the Grief and Loss elective during my undergrad. This class opened my eyes to the different ways that loss can affect a person and helped me understand my own grieving process.

What do you enjoy most about field education?

I interned at Richland County School District One during my undergraduate experience. For my last semester, I was at Hopkins Middle School and started the Girls on the Run after-school program with their social worker. It was an amazing experience and impacted each of the girls in such a positive way! I now intern at Lexington Medical Center and half the time I am in an inpatient setting while the other half I am in the outpatient oncology unit. Currently, I am working on starting a closed support group for those with an active cancer diagnosis.

How has the College of Social Work faculty and staff helped you overcome any challenges to help you best succeed?

The faculty at the College of Social Work has helped me in ways they may never know. Whether it’s teaching me skills to use in the field, helping me process difficult situations in field or just reminding me that I can do this, the faculty has always supported me and pushed me to be the best social worker I can be.

What advice or recommendations would you give prospective out-of-state students who might be considering studying social work at the University of South Carolina?

Shadow a social worker and see what they do. Everyday social workers make a big impact on other’s lives, and it’s truly inspiring to see.

What is your favorite spot on the USC campus and why?

My favorite place on the USC Campus is the Horseshoe! It is so beautiful all year round. I love seeing all the dogs playing and people smiling.

How do you plan to use your social work degree once your graduate?

I would love to work with children in a health-related setting. Whether a hospital or sport setting or another field is yet to be determined!