Meet Clementina Jose, LMSW

We were lucky to catch up with Clementina Jose, LMSW recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Clementina , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Discovering my purpose wasn’t a straightforward path for me; it was more like stumbling upon it by accident. At first, I envisioned myself becoming a psychologist because I enjoyed connecting with people and believed that helping them through mental health challenges was best done through that route. But despite my interest, something didn’t quite sit right with me. I was unsure if it was the right fit.

Then, the pandemic hit, and amidst all the chaos, I underwent a spiritual awakening. I rededicated my life to Christ and began to see things more clearly. It was during this time that I felt in my spirit that social work was where I belonged. I resisted this realization initially, thinking social work only meant child welfare, which didn’t fully resonate with me.

But then, an unexpected job opportunity came along as an academic specialist just weeks later. My role was primarily focused on helping students academically, but I soon discovered that a significant part of my job involved providing emotional and social support as well. I then began connecting with members from the school which helped me to understand the role of a school social worker. This experience opened my eyes to the diverse possibilities within social work, especially the crucial role of school social workers in counseling students—a role that deeply resonated with my desire to make a meaningful impact.

With newfound clarity and a sense of purpose, I decided to take a leap of faith and apply to social work school. I remember praying earnestly, asking for a sign that this path was meant for me. To my joy and relief, I was accepted into the top social work school in New York, alongside other excellent options, without even paying an application fee. Since then, every moment in this field has felt right. I’ve embraced the belief that sometimes, discovering our purpose isn’t about following a straight line—it’s about allowing ourselves to be guided by unexpected turns and moments of clarity, trusting that we’re walking in the direction meant for us.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I come from a Nigerian background, born and raised in Queens, NY, where the saying goes that Queens gets the money and also produces royalty. My upbringing was grounded in strong values, especially the belief in the transformative power of education. From a young age, my family instilled in me a sense of purpose and possibility.

I had the privilege of attending an early college high school, which allowed me to fast-track my education. Thanks to this opportunity, I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work by the age of 21. I also became licensed and started my career in the field at such a young age which has shaped my perspective and fueled my passion for making a difference.

Currently, I work as a social work supervisor at a nonprofit organization, overseeing programs aimed at improving community well-being. Alongside my work in social work, I am slowly venturing into the world of business. I contribute articles to educational technology platforms and provide consulting services to nonprofits focused on education.

What truly excites me about my work is the chance to make services better for the communities that desperately need it. A lot of programs and nonprofits have wonderful missions but sometimes miss the mark while administering services so I love to make meaningful connections and provide insight on how to make services better and equitable.
Through my consulting work, I strive to empower organizations to create meaningful impact and foster positive change.

Looking ahead, I am eager to expand my consulting services and explore new opportunities for collaboration and growth. For anyone interested in learning more about what I do or connecting with me, feel free to reach out at Clementinaconsults@gmail.com and connect with me on LinkedIn @Clementina Jose, LMSW

My journey is driven by a deep commitment to learning, empowerment, and making a positive difference in impoverished and often ignored communities.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I believe three qualities that really made a difference in my journey were resilience, patience, and faith. Resilience was crucial because I faced a lot of skepticism and judgment from people who didn’t see my potential or only saw me as I used to be. But standing firm amidst that resistance and still believing in myself took a lot of resilience, but it was necessary.

Patience was another key factor. I often saw others getting recognition and opportunities while I seemed to be overlooked. It was tough standing in the shadows, feeling discouraged, but I learned to wait for my time and keep supporting those who were succeeding. I had to remind myself that what’s meant for me will come in its own time, and I needed to stay focused on my path.

Lastly, faith played a huge role. If I hadn’t had faith, I might have internalized all the negativity and doubt thrown my way. Instead, my faith helped me see my own potential, power, and light, and I began embracing that fully.

For those just starting out, my advice is to avoid comparing yourself to others, being that it is poison. It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing and feel like you’re falling behind. But you have to trust your own journey and process, stay dedicated, and stay in your lane. It might sound cliché, but it’s true. Not everyone will recognize your strengths, and that’s okay. In fact, if you don’t recognize the greatness in you, why do you think the world should? Let go of the bitterness and hurt, so that you can have the strength walk freely into everything that’s waiting for you.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

“The Courage to Be Disliked” really played an important role in my development. For a long time, I was scared of being judged or disliked just for being myself. It made me avoid situations where I might stand out, always worrying about what others might think. This book showed me that trying to please everyone or avoid criticism is pointless and actually holds you back.

One of the biggest lessons I took from it is that not everyone will like you(seems simple but it is not easy to internalize). Trying to escape it only hurts you in the end. Embracing this idea helped me let go of needing approval from everyone and focus more on just being genuine.

Another big takeaway was realizing I’m not defined by my past or what’s happened to me. I have the power to shape my own life and turn my story into something positive. That shift from feeling like a victim to taking control of my own narrative was huge for me.

Overall, the book taught me to have the courage to be myself and embrace who I really am without worrying about what others think. It encouraged me to see my vulnerabilities as strengths and to live authentically. This mindset has made a big difference in how I approach life and how I connect with others.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clementina-jose-lmsw-202569189
• Other: Clementinaconsults@gmail.com

Image Credits

Seeds of Fortune Inc – for the first and last photo