Serving as an IRC youth mentor this summer has been immensely rewarding. I’ve been able to engage with a culture I was previously uneducated about, and serve as a role model and friend to a young girl in need of support.
My experiences this summer have also fostered a shift in personal perspective. Witnessing the toll life as a refugee took on Kat led me to reconsider what I knew about childhood trauma, and inspired my capstone project.
During the Spring semester, I plan to conduct my capstone project on children’s understanding and response to traumatic events. As I’ve observed the ways in which Kat has dealt with the traumatic experience of leaving her country and family, I’ve grown passionate about the subject. I’ve spoken with my IRC liaison to gain a better understanding of how other refugee children have responded to the abrupt change of life as well. I will also conduct my own literature review to find sources relevant to the topic. Overall, I am excited about beginning my capstone project this spring!
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