We CU Spotlight: Meet Kim Byckowski
10/28/2022 12:01:48 PM
We'd like to welcome Kim Byckowski, our newest member of the We CU team! Kim serves as our Community Partner Liaison for We CU and the Community Learning Lab. Get to know more about Kim Byckowski!
What do you do as part of We CU?
I am responsible for helping connect community partners and students to engage in service opportunities. I’m here to set up the initial contact between both parties and troubleshoot any challenges that may happen along the way. I am also a liaison between We CU and the Community Learning Lab, who work together to establish and maintain relationships with community organizations.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What are you passionate about?
I am a first-year Master of Social Work student in the Clinical track, with a concentration in Mental Health. I completed my B.S. in Psychology here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2019. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting, cooking vegetarian food, reading about current events, and trying new drinks at local coffee shops.
I am passionate about learning and being open to different perspectives and experiences. I firmly believe that there is no single “right” way to do things, as each person’s life path, cultural influences, and values are unique. I hope that through my career focus in mental health, I can support others’ self-determination in finding their own way to navigate life’s challenges. I’m also interested in how systemic issues impact people individually, and what we can do to challenge these systems while helping people thrive despite them.
What is your favorite quote, and why?
It’s so tough to pick a favorite, but a couple of quotes I love that come to mind are:
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” - Angela Davis
Both speak to the values central to my life that influenced my path to social work - building positive relationships with others and being intentional about putting your values into action through all that you do.
Do you have any advice for We CU students?
Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to ask questions! One of the best ways to learn is to engage with folks who have different experiences from your own.