With her son by her side, Zoneice Grose ’25 charts a path of purpose through social work
By Britt Board
Assistant Director of Communication
When Zoneice Grose ’25 walks across the stage at graduation this spring, she’ll have earned far more than a degree. A first-generation college student, a mother, and a dedicated advocate for equity in education, Zoneice’s path to social work was winding, but it all made sense. And now she’s right where she needs to be.
“I started at PLU in the nursing program and I just did not have the urge to continue in that route,” she says. After some soul-searching and guidance from an academic advisor from the Center for Student Success, Zoneice made the switch to social work. “Ultimately, I knew I wanted to still help people. Social work was a better fit.”
Since that big decision, she’s poured her heart, energy, and time into the field. Most recently, she’s completed a year-long internship at Franklin Elementary in Tacoma Public Schools as part of the Bachelor of Social Work program.
It’s tough work, and Zoneice sees some of the struggles her students face. “I am giving those students what some may be lacking: my listening ear to hear them, consistency, and praise for trying. I want these kids to know they can overcome all obstacles.”
It is a new adventure each and every day I am there.
While her days at Franklin are full of challenges and discovery — in her words, “It is a new adventure each and every day I am there” — her impact is felt elsewhere, too.
At PLU, Zoneice serves as co-president of both the Student Social Work Club and the Phi Alpha Honor Society, roles that allow her to help foster connection and advocacy among her peers. “We just want to promote that social work is more than what people think it is,” she explains. Under her leadership, the clubs have facilitated everything from Narcan kit assembly and domestic violence awareness panels, to clothing drives and self-care days.
On top of everything, she’s a PTA board member at her son’s school, and somehow still finds time for the occasional movie night, vacation, or quick nap. “My calendar and notebook are my BFFs,” she jokes. “I have a checklist of what needs to be done on certain days and I stick to it 80% of the time. The other 20% is me recharging.”
Being a mother, she says, has only strengthened her sense of purpose. “When my son came along after being told I would never be a mom, I wanted to be the best role model. The kind of role model my mom and the elders in my family showed me. Be a good person, honest, work hard, be humble, stand your ground, and always look out for others.”
Zoneice made the connection that, in many ways, there are strong parallels between motherhood and social work. Her two roles inform and strengthen each other. The lessons she teaches her son are the same ones she brings into her work: showing up, listening deeply, and believing in people’s potential.
Her favorite memories from PLU include the big moments, like getting graduation photos with her best friend from the nursing program. But Zoneice also appreciates the quieter affirmations, like realizing in her junior year that she was surrounded by professors who genuinely loved what they do. “It showed me that I made a great choice in becoming a social worker.”
Things aren’t slowing down for Zoneice, but she’s not going far. Zoneice is starting PLU’s Master of Social Work program just five days after graduation. “The end goal is to work for a non-profit organization that helps address injustice towards minorities or become a school social worker,” she says.
Her story is one of reflection, long hours, joy, and care. Through it all, Zoneice feels the support of the people in her major, but also through her scholarships. When asked what her scholarships meant to her, she put it simply, “It shows that my hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.”