Every migrant’s story includes the loss that families suffer upon embarking on their journey. Similarly, my family has had to make sacrifices for the education I receive today. My departure was not only a tale of happiness and freedom; it was also marked by sorrow. I left a grandmother behind who quietly weeps at night distant from her children. I live with the sadness of leaving my country, culture, school, and friends. All my success today is owed to my grandparents fleeing their homes in India to escape persecution. I grew up in Pakistan until I was fourteen years old. The tales of displacement lingered in every corner. Forced or voluntary, the experience is never linear. Upon arriving in the United States, I learned how difficult it can be to resettle in a foreign land. This inspired me to make it a personal goal to assist newcomers.
When I began my college years at George Mason University, I knew that my Global Affairs degree would help me understand the countless issues that lead to migration. I have been a part of running No Lost Generation @ Mason, a student organization dedicated to refugee advocacy. This club has encouraged me to research refugee resettlement and land my internship at Catholic Charities. I applied for my internship through the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECIL) at Mason, and the Engaged Summer Program matched me with my desired site. I am incredibly grateful to be interning at the Migration and Refugee Services office at Catholic Charities.
This internship was perfect for me, especially because of the Welcome Corps on Campus program created by the U.S. Department of State. My student organization made this program a reality at Mason. In the Fall of 2024, three refugee students will be joining George Mason as undergraduates from a refugee camp in Kenya. I am one of the private sponsorship group members responsible for helping resettle these students. Since my first day, my internship has taught me the ins and outs of resettlement. I have had the chance to speak with refugee clients and assist them with everything from registering their children for school to pre-employment training.
I have learned valuable information that has better prepared me for a future career in the migration field. My experience as a Global Affairs major made me an ideal candidate for this role. I offered my international perspectives on situations such as explaining cultural differences to my co-workers and the conflict history of various regions. I will implement all the interpersonal communication skills I gathered from this internship in the remainder of my courses for my Global Affairs degree. I now have a clearer vision of my career aspirations and hope to continue working with migrants.
August 01, 2024