Student Reflections
Beyond the Classroom: Five Questions with a Major
Students and teachers who took part in the Woodenfish Foundation’s 2017 Humanistic
Buddhism Monastic Life Program at Xinyin Temple near Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China/
photo courtesy of Clara Jones, '18.
Lauren Berry-Kagan, ’18: The International Rescue Committee internship program
- Tell us a bit about the International Rescue Committee. What is it and what activities
did you participate in there?
- Lauren: The International Rescue Committee is a non-profit organization that provides
humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict and natural disaster. The organization
was started during World War II, at the request of Albert Einstein, and now works
in 34 countries and 27 cities in the United States. Its American offices help resettle
refugees by providing cultural orientations, job trainings and placements, housing
assistance, English education, after-school programs, and so, so much more.
During the summers of 2016 and 2017 I taught in IRC Seattle's Newcomer Summer School, which is for refugee youth ages 5-18 (I worked in the older class with students ages 11-18) who have arrived in the United States within the past year. Our students come from Iraq, Nepal, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Burma, and Congo, and some had only been in the United States for a few weeks. [click here to read more] The main focus of the summer school is English, but we also did math, science, and school readiness activities to help students learn how to do things like check grades online, request an interpreter from the school for their parents, or join extracurricular activities.
- Lauren: The International Rescue Committee is a non-profit organization that provides
humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict and natural disaster. The organization
was started during World War II, at the request of Albert Einstein, and now works
in 34 countries and 27 cities in the United States. Its American offices help resettle
refugees by providing cultural orientations, job trainings and placements, housing
assistance, English education, after-school programs, and so, so much more.
- How did you hear about this internship?
- Lauren: I learned about IRC through a family member, and then I found the internship
on their website.
- Lauren: I learned about IRC through a family member, and then I found the internship
on their website.
- How did learning within the classroom transfer to what you experienced at IRC?
- Lauren: My fellow interns were all incredible, but the most important advantage that
I had with my religious studies background was that I knew not to make any cultural
assumptions, such as assuming that someone from the Middle East is Muslim. It sounds
small, but when you're working with populations who have either been targeted their
whole life because of their minority status, like my Yazidi students, or are suddenly
experiencing what it's like to be a minority for the first time, it's important to
not assume things about their religious identity, cultural background, or life experiences.
Additionally, my Muslim students were clearly pleasantly surprised by the fact that
I know a fair amount about Islam and showed an active interest in their culture.
- Lauren: My fellow interns were all incredible, but the most important advantage that
I had with my religious studies background was that I knew not to make any cultural
assumptions, such as assuming that someone from the Middle East is Muslim. It sounds
small, but when you're working with populations who have either been targeted their
whole life because of their minority status, like my Yazidi students, or are suddenly
experiencing what it's like to be a minority for the first time, it's important to
not assume things about their religious identity, cultural background, or life experiences.
Additionally, my Muslim students were clearly pleasantly surprised by the fact that
I know a fair amount about Islam and showed an active interest in their culture.
- What was your most memorable experience or most valuable takeaway from participating
in the IRC's internship?
- Lauren: My students have experienced immense struggle, have witnessed some of our
world's most devastating atrocities, and carry a great deal of trauma. At the same
time, they are motivated to learn, they are curious about the world, they are super
goofy, they are talented, they are kind, they are creative, and, more than anything
else, they are incredibly hopeful about their futures. Holding these two sets of truths
simultaneously was one of the most important aspects of my internship -- that my students
have been affected by their experiences in ways I cannot possibly imagine, but that
they are resilient and that kids are kids, no matter what.
- Lauren: My students have experienced immense struggle, have witnessed some of our
world's most devastating atrocities, and carry a great deal of trauma. At the same
time, they are motivated to learn, they are curious about the world, they are super
goofy, they are talented, they are kind, they are creative, and, more than anything
else, they are incredibly hopeful about their futures. Holding these two sets of truths
simultaneously was one of the most important aspects of my internship -- that my students
have been affected by their experiences in ways I cannot possibly imagine, but that
they are resilient and that kids are kids, no matter what.
- If other students would like to be part of this experience, how would they do so?
- Lauren: I cannot recommend getting involved with IRC enough! It's an incredible organization
that does amazing, vital work. They have phenomenal internship opportunities that
include a lot of direct contact with clients, so you definitely won't be standing
in a back room making photocopies. The internships are unpaid, but ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ has lots
of opportunities for students with unpaid internships to receive funding. The first
year I interned with IRC I received a financial award from SEEBeyond, and I really
encourage all students to look into those amazing financial resources.
that our local NPR station did that students might find of interest.
- Lauren: I cannot recommend getting involved with IRC enough! It's an incredible organization
that does amazing, vital work. They have phenomenal internship opportunities that
include a lot of direct contact with clients, so you definitely won't be standing
in a back room making photocopies. The internships are unpaid, but ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ has lots
of opportunities for students with unpaid internships to receive funding. The first
year I interned with IRC I received a financial award from SEEBeyond, and I really
encourage all students to look into those amazing financial resources.