Erath's Jacie Petty wins “What I want to be and Why’ essay contest sponsored by Rotary

High school students have their reasons as to why they want to major in a certain thing. Erath High senior Jacie Petty knows why she wants to be a social worker.
She explained her reasoning in her essay, “What I Want To Be And Why” sponsored by the Abbeville Rotary Club. It was so convincing, she won the parish’s “What I Want To Be And Why” Essay Contest.
The Rotary Club awarded her $500.
Taking second in the contest were Chase McDonald from Abbeville High and Linh Nguyen of Noth Vermilion.
Petty read her essay to the Rotarians last week. She explained by the time she was a sophomore, she knew she wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives. That year she read, the book, A Child Called, ‘It’ written by Dave Pelzer. In the book, a social worker helped to save the life of a child. She also learned how a social worker helped a girl deal with being abused by a family member.
“Being a social worker would allow me not only to teach life lessons, but I could also help people through very tough patches of their lives,” said Petty in her essay.
She explained what areas a social worker can concentrate on such as counseling individuals, substance abuse, mental health, health care, child and family
Petty will concentrate on child and family, and helping families deal with hard times.
“While some people claim social work is depressing, I argue that social work is rewarding. I do agree that some of the situations I may come across and some of the visions I may see will be depressing,” she wrote, “but my job will be to take these situations and turn them completely around.”
Although she will see and have to deal with children being abused, it is something she will be able to deal with. Every child should have a “great childhood” experience. “I want to be there for the children who have experienced the same abuse as Pelzer and the little girl.”
Pelzer said, “It is important for people to know that no matter what lies in their past, they can overcome the dark side and press on the brighter world.”