From Queens to Provo, Kelly Rodriguez’s educational journey combined study and faith to envision helping others access the support she once lacked.
Brigham Young University graduate Kelly Rodriguez didn’t always know she would become a social worker. Growing up in the New York City borough of Queens, she saw firsthand the challenges families face when navigating systems without clear guidance or resources. Now, as she prepares to graduate from the Master of Social Work program, Rodriguez views her degree as a vital tool for advocating for families in the same challenges she witnessed as a child.
“I grew up as a first-generation Latina [immigrant], and there was not a lot of resources for my family because we were just not [able to overcome] language barriers,” Rodriguez says. “And so, I felt very passionate about learning those resources and helping other families get access to it, regardless of their background.”
Rodriguez initially pursued nursing, but after gaining clinical exposure, she decided she wanted a more relational, one-on-one approach to helping others. That realization led her to psychology and eventually social work, where she found a structure that aligned with both her professional goals and personal values.
“I love that social work focuses on the person and the environment,” she explains. “We look at different systems in the person's life, not just a diagnosis label.”
Leaving behind the fast-paced, diverse environment of New York City, Rodriguez stepped into a setting that felt entirely unfamiliar. Having joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 19, her decision to attend BYU came with real uncertainty about whether she would fit in or be understood. Those fears quickly dissolved as she found a welcoming and supportive community.
“I recognized I need to be me and represent who I am here,” she says. “People need me to be me, not other people.”
Rodriguez soon learned that her clinical training and her testimony didn’t have to live in separate compartments. She began to lean on her faith to navigate the heavy emotional lift of her coursework, finding that the more she used the Spirit to guide her training, the more her confidence grew alongside her testimony.
“What a blessing to be in a career where I get to use the Spirit to help me guide and help people heal in their lives,” Rodriguez says.
In January, Rodriguez presented research at the Society for Social Work and Research conference, an opportunity she once thought was out of reach. Working alongside faculty mentor Cory Dennis, professor of social work, she studied substance use and mental health among Hispanic and Latino populations, exploring barriers to accessing care.
“I never felt like I would be able to present at a conference yet feel confident,” she shares, reflecting on the experience. “But it made me motivated to want to be in those positions so I can be a voice and help others in the community.”
The experience made it clear that there was a gap in representation within the profession. Not seeing many people from her community in those spaces fueled Rodriguez’s desire to use her education to advocate for underserved communities. Like many graduate students, Rodriguez had her fair share of “imposter syndrome” moments. But she chose to trust her hard work over her doubts and stayed the course.
“I’m really proud that I didn’t give up,” she says. “I kept going when I didn’t feel like maybe I felt smart enough.”
That perseverance has paid off. Faculty members have noted her remarkable growth, not only in her clinical skills but also in her confidence and leadership. Rodriguez credits the program’s supportive environment, mentorship and financial assistance with helping her succeed.
After graduation, she plans to remain in Utah to complete the 3,000 hours required for licensure as a clinical social worker. Long term, she hopes to return to New York City, where her journey began, to serve communities similar to the one that shaped her.
“I would love to continue working with kids and neurodivergent clients,” she says. “I want to be able to help create a space that they can feel heard and seen.”
Looking back, the Provo campus feels very different from the unfamiliar place Rodriguez first stepped into years ago. The uncertainty she felt early on has been replaced by a vision for the future. Thinking about everything it took to get to this point, she smiles.
“It’s been the most amazing experience ever,” she says.