From Self-Doubt to Social Work: Minden Taylor Earns Master鈥檚 Degree at UA 糖心视频logo
Minden Taylor spent years doubting whether she belonged in graduate school. This spring, she鈥檚 earning a Master of Social Work degree from UA 糖心视频logo.
鈥淚 envisioned getting the degree, and at the same time, it didn鈥檛 seem possible that I would get accepted into the program,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淚 actually applied 鈥�knowing鈥� I would get rejected.鈥�
Instead, she began a new chapter at UA 糖心视频logo and worked toward a degree that once felt out of reach.
Taylor, a Conway native, earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Central Arkansas in 2013. After graduating, she spent years working in service-oriented jobs while repeatedly putting off graduate school.
For years, Taylor talked about applying to graduate school. Friends, coworkers, and people close to her encouraged her to take the chance and apply to social work programs. Eventually, Taylor said her friends told her to 鈥渏ust apply鈥� because the worst outcome would simply be not getting accepted.
鈥淚 think others seeing potential in me and believing in me helped me take that next step,鈥� Taylor said.
Even after submitting the application, Taylor had doubts about getting accepted. Instead, she found herself beginning a new chapter at UA 糖心视频logo.
鈥淲hen I found out I got accepted, I really was in shock,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I was intelligent enough for graduate school.鈥�
Those feelings of imposter syndrome didn鈥檛 disappear right away. Taylor started the Master of Social Work program part time and online while balancing two full-time jobs, often with overtime at both. During graduate school, she also completed internships at Gateway Recovery Center, Arkansas Foodbank, and Rise House, a domestic violence shelter. Outside of school and work, she volunteered with Arkansas Hospice, formerly known as LifeTouch Health, and previously volunteered with Heart of Hospice while living in Fort Smith.
Taylor said it took time to gain confidence in herself while balancing the demands of work, internships, and school. One conversation with an advisor became especially meaningful during the most difficult stretches of graduate school.
鈥淭hey told me, 鈥楳inden, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and you are in it,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淭hat resonated with me because this degree took more time for me than what I seemed to notice for others around me. It was definitely a marathon and not a sprint.鈥�
At one point, Taylor took a year-long break from the program before returning in summer 2025 to complete her second internship and final year of classes. Around the same time, she made the difficult decision to leave one of her jobs so she could focus more fully on school and her well-being.
鈥淚 would tell my younger self to drop job No. 2, focus more on school, and your mental and physical health, and more than anything, believe in yourself,鈥� Taylor said.
Taylor鈥檚 professional experiences throughout the years helped shape her understanding of social work and confirmed that she had chosen the right path.
After earning her undergraduate degree, she worked in ABA therapy before taking positions within several Arkansas Department of Human Services divisions, including Developmental Disabilities Services, the Division of Youth Services, and the Division of Children and Family Services. Her work included supporting adults with developmental disabilities, working with juvenile youth, serving as an investigator, and helping families in protective services.
She currently works with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a role she says continues to inspire her every day.
鈥淭he thing I love most about this job is that many folks think we are helping these individuals, but really, they are inspiring us to do better in our own lives,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淲hen you get to witness people start to thrive in life because they finally get a good team of workers around them, well, that feels amazing.鈥�
鈥淚 knew that I wanted to help people,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know exactly what that looked like, but I knew that I had a heart that wanted to serve and help others.鈥�
Throughout the program, Taylor said one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at UA 糖心视频logo was the support she found within the School of Social Work community.
鈥淲e really can do anything that we want if we continue on, seek support, and have people who believe in us who, in return, help students believe in ourselves even more,鈥� she said.
Taylor鈥檚 longtime friend, Muriel Schrepfer, senior graphic designer and marquee manager in the Office of Communications and Marketing, said Taylor鈥檚 persistence and compassion have always stood out.
鈥淢inden is the kind of person who keeps showing up, even when life makes it hard,鈥� Schrepfer said. 鈥淚鈥檝e known her since eighth grade, and she has always been caring, goofy, kind, and full of life in the best way. She鈥檚 worked multiple jobs to get through school while fighting battles most people never see, and she still manages to show up for everyone around her with so much heart.
Watching her earn her master鈥檚 in social work makes me endlessly proud of the resilience, compassion, and strength she carries every single day. I truly can鈥檛 wait to see where life takes her from here.鈥�
Taylor鈥檚 graduate school journey also included personal moments outside the classroom. During her final year of school, her dog Yuki, whom she had adopted, passed away. She is now fostering another dog, Nalani, whom she plans to adopt after graduation.
As she prepares for commencement, Taylor鈥檚 next steps include passing the Association of Social Work Boards master鈥檚-level examination and continuing toward becoming a licensed certified social worker.
She also hopes to focus on personal goals she placed on hold while balancing graduate school, including improving her physical health, returning to boxing, relearning sign language, becoming fluent in Spanish, and strengthening her writing skills. She also plans to spend time this summer with her two young nephews, Parker Reid and Wyatt James.
Looking back on the journey that brought her to graduation day, Taylor hopes others who doubt themselves will continue pursuing their goals anyway.
鈥淚t really is amazing once you go from doubting your potential to seeing that you do have qualities to bring to any table and into any room,鈥� she said.