Enya transferred to the Mount in August of 2024.
She transferred to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and while the difficulties of college life could be expected, nothing could have prepared her for the tragedy she would confront during her fall semester. In October of 2024, Enya received the news that her baby brother had passed in a car accident—the second brother that she had lost to an untimely passing while pursuing a career for herself.
“It impacted me so much I failed in my studies and couldn't focus,” Enya remembers. “There were times when grief made me want to quit school entirely.” Left to bear the weight of both of her losses, all while pursuing a degree at a new and unfamiliar campus, she was left with a monumental challenge to rise to.
The realities of being a transfer student only made adapting to college life in the midst of loss that much harder. “As a transfer student, I quickly learned how overwhelming it could be to adjust to a new environment,” Enya admits. As a new student at the Mount, Enya struggled with unfamiliar software, finding her way around campus, and finding her place within an entirely new community. “I expected my college journey to look different, but life had other plans,” she reflects.
The Path Forward: Enya Finds Overwhelming Support in the Department of Social Work
Despite contending with the combined challenges of processing loss and finding her place as a transfer student, however, Enya found a path forward within the Mount Community. This path presented itself to Enya in the Department of Social Work.
“During one of the hardest moments of my life, losing my second brother, their support was a lifeline,” Enya says in gratitude. The community that she found within the Department of Social Work welcomed her with messages of love. Chair of the Department of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work program Director, Dr. Jennifer Withrow Ed.D., M.S.W., has acted as a particular force of positivity for her. Dr. Jennifer Withrow asked all of Enya’s classmates to sign a card for her, and donated to the funeral home to help the funeral home plant a tree in remembrance of her baby brother. “It really touched my heart and I have the certificate hanging up on my desk at home,” Enya says. Dr. Jennifer Withrow was always a phone call away for her, and supported her academically by being quick to help her with any classwork she needed assistance with. “Mrs. Jennifer Withrow became my guide and my community.”
The immense outpouring of support from Enya’s professors and peers in the Department of Social Work helped her move forward, and she’s infinitely thankful for the love she was shown. “I truly thank the Department of Social Work and my professors, as well as my classmates that encouraged me to continue to move forward and give me grace when I truly needed it the most,” Enya expresses.
Turning Crisis into Conviction: Enya’s Aspirations as a Social Worker
Looking forward, Enya hopes to finish her degree and use it to become a Social Worker, so she can help others just like she has been helped herself. “I am honored to be a part of a community and school that truly supports their students and staff,” Enya says. “ My story is just beginning and I hope that I grow to be able to give back and help individuals as a Social Worker, just as everyone has helped me.” The kindness Enya received at the Mount ultimately reminded her why she chose to pursue the career path of a Social Worker in the first place: “ To bring hope to others when they feel they can’t go on.” As Enya continues toward graduating in 2026, she plans to carry the belief that the Mount Community showed her into her future career as a Social Worker.
For Enya, having the Heart of a Lion means having resilience, getting up after every loss, every setback, and continuing to grow. It means having strength—something that Enya has displayed time and time again at the Mount. “I hope that through my work, I can be that source of strength for others, just as so many have been for me,” she proclaims.
If Enya has learned one thing in her time at the Mount, it’s resilience. “This is not a setback,” she asserts, “but a comeback.”
Want to Learn More About the Department of Social Work at the Mount?
The Department of Social Work creates pathways for Social Work majors to focus on changing and improving lives. Social Workers empower individuals to achieve their full potential, and the Department of Social Work ensures that students are able to empower others by strengthening their understanding of contemporary social issues and policies. If you’re interested in learning more about the Department of Social Work at the Mount, check out our Department of Social Work page here!