Laura Acker
Heritage High School
President, SVSU Students’ Social Work Organization (SSWO)
Laura Acker is a student in SVSU’s Social Work program, and is preparing to apply to the University of Chicago’s graduate program in community development, where she would like to study the existing economic and social conditions in Saginaw, so that she can return to the area after finishing the program and work to make a difference in people’s lives here.
“After I graduated from high school, I went to live in San Francisco for a year, but then I chose to come back to SVSU so I could be in my home town and close to my family.”
“I chose Social Work as a major because I really enjoy helping people,” Laura explained. “Social workers tend to be where people go as an absolute last resort. People in trouble usually rely on their network of family members, friends, and co-workers when crisis strikes. But there are also times when one needs more help than friends and family can provide – that’s where a social worker steps in.”
Upon acceptance to the Social Work program, Laura took a class in policy, in which she learned about how public policy works and how programs that help people are designed.
“The professors at SVSU are very helpful. They are busy with their own research, but they take the time to be involved with students. I always felt that I could go to any one of them with questions or concerns about class material. No one should hesitate to go to them with even the smallest question. Every one of them does a great job at what they do.”
“The atmosphere at SVSU is very professional, yet you can develop very close relationships here, with your teachers and with your fellow students.”
Laura serves as president of SVSU’s Students’ Social Work Organization (SSWO), where she is gaining hands-on experience managing projects such as a clothing drive for area residents; a number of campus events, such as the “Street Fest” and the “Pig Gig;” and other fundraisers.
Graduates of SSWO donate all of the money raised in the previous year to charity organizations. This year, SSWO donated to the Bayside Lodge in Saginaw and the international organization Children in Crisis.
Laura also serves as an International Student Conversation Partner, a role she finds difficult yet very interesting. Conversation partners are paired with one individual who is a guest student at SVSU from another country. Laura’s partner is Hussain, a student from Saudi Arabia, whom she is looking forward to get to know.