Some people come to social work through hardship. Jamori Hamilton came to it through wonder. He had traveled the world, sat in rooms with prime ministers and former presidents, and built a career that took him further than he expected. And yet, the more he saw, the louder one question grew: What about the child who will never get these opportunities? He wanted to do something about it. That's where the idea of becoming a social worker was born, so he enrolled in the Social Work program at Southern Regional Technical College.
Social work is a field overwhelmingly populated by women, and Jamori knew that walking in. He describes the early discomfort of entering offices filled entirely with female colleagues and confronting the stereotypes that link empathy and emotional openness to femininity rather than humanity. "When someone sees me — a man — they often think I can't be as caring or as emotionally open to understand my clients," he says. His response has been to outwork the assumption. He pushes to the top of his class, leans into the learning, and is, in his own words, trying to be "the one that opens doors for the men that will follow."
That commitment shows up in how he lives. His typical week consists of an internship in the mornings, rest, and a 12-hour night shift — then doing it all over again. For most people, that schedule would feel unsustainable. For Jamori, it is simply preparation. "A crisis doesn't care that you're tired," he says. "All they know is that they need you."
One of the things Jamori loves most about the Social Work program is the classroom debates. Everyone in the room, he says, shares the same goal: the best possible outcome for their clients. But the paths to get there differ, and that tension is productive.
"We compare notes. We get into disagreements in a respectful manner. We do all of this to find out what the best solution is. It's exciting, to say the least."
When Jamori finishes the Social Work program at SRTC, he will be enrolling at Thomas University to begin his Bachelor's degree, with a minor in Psychology, a next step made possible, he's quick to note, by the support of his parents and Ms. Kelly Gentry, who has helped him every step of the way. His parents always told him it's not about how you start, it's about how you finish. He's proving them right.
To any man considering the field, his message is direct: "This is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. This program will give you the tools to navigate society. It's going to be the most addictive learning experience of your life."