Britt received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University in 1999, shortly after which she was hired by Behavioral Health and Recovery Services as a recovery specialist. It wasn’t until 2019, after her children had already become teenagers, that she decided to pursue a master’s degree at CSUB.
“I really wanted to have an opportunity to learn more skills that could help me in my job,” she said. “The social work program has been wonderful in helping me learn different treatment modalities, how to work more effectively with clients and their families and new approaches and interventions that could assist me.”
Going back to school after two decades posed a significant challenge, however. Not only did Britt go to school while working a full-time job, she also had to get reacclimated to the college experience.
“I was excited to be back in school and I was ready to learn, but it was extremely overwhelming at first, especially when you get the syllabi and you see giant assignments that are 10 to 12 pages long. I hadn’t written a paper like that in 20 years!” she said.
Britt said she enjoyed being in the social work master’s program and that it gave her a broader perspective of social work.
“It’s really opened my eyes to a lot of things in society and within our country as to how we treat human beings, what ways we can be more empathetic toward others, policy changes that could support more people within society,” she said.
Despite some struggles with managing her time, Britt said the work was worth it and that she had a great experience at CSUB. She said she has felt very supported by her professors at the university.
“This has been a very growing, wonderful experience. I feel like I have learned so much, not only academically but also growing mentally and emotionally,” she said.
Alejandro Leon, lecturer for the social work master’s program, said Britt was an excellent student in the two courses he had with her.
“I was impressed with Gabby’s values, her ethics. They align perfectly with the social work department,” he said. “She truly sees the strength, dignity and worth of the people she works with.”
With her time at CSUB nearly behind her, Britt said she feels she now has more skills in her toolbox that will help her provide better support to clients in her new position and in future endeavors.
“There are so many different opportunities with social work, and now I feel I have a really strong skillset where I can take these skills wherever I want to go,” she said.