Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Muschett.
Hi Simone, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY by my Jamaican single mother. I am a first generation American and first person in my entire family to graduate from college with a Bachelor’s degree. Education and hard work; are the values that were instilled in me.
Growing up in Brooklyn, in the 90s presented many social and economic challenges that were out of our control, but part of our reality. I was able to endure many trials at home and in my community by just staying in school. School has always been my escape. It is the one thing that I do well. At home, praises were not a part of our culture. So, affirming and empowering language was something my teachers were able to give me that my parent couldn’t. Therefore, school became my safe space. Through every traumatic experience or adversity I have faced, it is clear that school and a quality education saved my life.
Today, I hold a Bachelor’s of Arts in in Psychology with a double minor in English and Africana Studies from SUNY Albany, a Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.AT) for Middle School English from Relay Graduate School of Education, a Masters in Social Work in Child and Family Welfare from LIU Brooklyn and now I am pursuing my Doctorate in Social Work at Tulane University.
I am a model example of how education can pull you out of poverty. Now I use the knowledge I have acquired to teach youth, families and communities how to fight trauma with resilience. My personal mission though, as ” The Ultimate Social Worker”, is to break generational cycles of trauma by curating safe spaces for trauma storytelling.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was violated at the age of 6. Felt abandoned by my Dad in middle school after he and my mother split up. In high school, I was violated at different moments by boys in the neighborhood or at school. It just depends, you definitely didn’t want to be caught outside on Halloween in late 90s to early 2000s Brooklyn. In addition to that, I started working at 16 to support with bills because my mom had not been able to consistently hold employment during my entire time in high school. We were heavily impacted by the recession.
So, no it has not been a smooth road. There have been countless struggles along the way; but that’s why I teach resilience. I am fully aware that, some of the adversities I have come back from, or have completed in the midst of enduring a personal trial most people are not able to do. However, through my experience and assessing my own resilience; I believe that it can be taught. That affirming and empowering language builds self-efficacy. When one is confident in oneself, then they are more willing to take risks, because they believe in themselves enough to know they can make it. That is the root of resilience to me, and that is what my teachers from K-12th grade gave me. Empowerment to always seek more and be aware that there is more beyond what I currently see in front of me. They provided faith, hope, and love. That is why I try to pay forward through my non-profit, Resilient Young Minds Incorporated, where I teach youth, families and communities how to fight trauma with resilience to access healing.
I have curated a set of workshops developed from a collection of research, practice and experience working with youth for over 10 years, and house them in a sacred transformational experience I call ” Resilience Camp” (RYM Camp). RYM Camp provides participants with the opportunity to identify, reflect and release trauma or adversity that is affecting them most. While simultaneously receiving support and coping strategies in a structured communal environment in the woods.
I believe that you begin to reach the healing level when you become so resilient that you have made it to freedom, and now you want to help someone else become free from their pain. Resilient Young Minds Inc. is the way I help other people take authority over their pain and get free. It holds me accountable to my resilience and my calling when I experience adversity in the present.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Ultimate Social Worker, PLLC?
As a social worker, there comes a level of stress with the job given that we have to work with the most vulnerable populations. In addition to helping people “get their lives in order,” we are also expected to maintain compliance with documentations and be flexible to respond to a crisis at any moment.
Let’s be clear, I absolutely love what I do. It brings me so much joy to be able to coach a family through their resiliency development. However, the job is by no means easy.
Therefore, burnout and exhaustion became very real. During a mandated mental health leave by my doctor I was able to rest, reflect and release. It dawned on me that I should give myself a therapy session. I thought ” what would I tell my students if they were feeling the way I am feeling?” The very next thing that came to mind was “extracurricular activities!” Often, as adults we get so lost in the responsibilities of adulting that we stop doing things we enjoy. Those hobbies, or after school programs that we participated in for enrichment, to practice healthy social skills doing something that you find interesting.
In 2022 I decided to challenge myself by taking up hobbies on my personal time. On my day job as a school social worker, I was feeling stifled, overwhelmed and unappreciated. I needed an outlet to get the message in my heart out. I started The R- Stories podcast to elevate resilient stories of local community leaders as a means to inspire those dealing with adversity, I started modeling as an intervention to learn to love my new body, I also am the singles leader at my church which keeps me grounded in my faith and another tool to share with clients.
Because I do all these things at once, the ultimate social worker was born and “The Ultimate Social Worker’s Diary,” my third published book released earlier this year; sharing my journey of becoming a social work leader in a marginalized profession.
I am a social worker through and through. I love it all. However, my passion and niche is Youth Development and Parent Advocacy. I just launched my consulting firm The Ultimate Social Worker, PLLC ( The USW), our mission is to break generational cycles of trauma through trauma storytelling. My gifting is being able to use hospitality, service and structure to curate spaces safe enough for people to feel comfortable to share their authentic selves as a form of narrative therapy and empowerment throughout the nation.
On an individual level, I provide (in-person and virtual) resilience coaching to families struggling with social, emotional and behavioral issues, provide guidance regarding ACS cases, and school meetings (IEP & disciplinary). Parents may also book me to represent them as their advocate during any of those meetings.
The Ultimate Social Worker represents adulting with boundaries, responsibilities, service and self-care. Teaching youth, families and communities, how to do that by curating wellness events with experiential activies and hosting book signings to share that our value does not come from what we produce, has been affirming and empowering. Receiving confirmation that you know what people need; and, they trust that you are able to meet that need, is an inspiring feeling.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I like the space and landscape. I love the cowboy hats and boots, the fashion styles of people are so cute. People I have connected with so far have been so kind. I don’t like the the politics.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/theultimatesocialworker/home
- Instagram: @iamtheusw
- Youtube: IamTheUltimateSocialWorker
- Other: https://linktr.ee/simoneemuschett
