Sara Tefera

What was the most impactful class you took in your major? what made it so? The professor? The assignments? What you read or learned?

The most impactful class I took in my major was Education in Contemporary Society. Education is an academic interest of mine, so taking a class that allowed me to explore the American education system through a sociological lens was one of the highlights of my academic career at Mason. Dr. Blake Silver, the course professor, structured the class to include discussions of the challenges faced by groups of American students that are often overlooked, such as undocumented students and for-profit university students. The learning done in this course, as well as the emphasis on brainstorming solutions, has inspired me to pursue a career where I can use my sociology background to improve student outcomes and hopefully one day be a part of creating real structural changes, especially in PK-12 public education.

What activities were you involved in during your time at Mason that impacted you? A club? Research? Internship? Study abroad? Can you describe that experience a bit? 

This semester, I have been doing an internship as my sociology capstone under CECIL’s Civic Fellows program, a community engagement opportunity. Since August, I have been interning with a local refugee resettlement agency in their youth services department. It has been an incredible experience, both personally and professionally, to work with recently arrived families to support their children as they integrate socially and academically to American culture and schooling. I have gotten the opportunity to connect not only with incredible client families, but also their dedicated case managers who I have been so lucky to learn from and work alongside. And as a Mason Civic Fellow, my practical experience has been grounded in academic learning about the purpose, strengths, and challenges of community engagement, guiding me in my work with the resettlement agency.

What is your most memorable moment at Mason inside or outside of the classroom? Can you describe it?

My most memorable moment at Mason might seem oddly specific, but sometimes our most impactful learning experiences are. One day in a lecture in my Sociological Theory class, our professor, Joseph Scimecca, shared an anecdote from his high school experience. He mentioned that he had a teacher whose views he didn’t really agree with, but who shared a quote that stuck with him and now sticks with me too: “Before you can say ‘I agree’ or ‘I disagree’, you must be able to say, ‘I understand.’” That philosophy was at the heart of our discussion based course and is now at the heart of my own attempts to analyze the world around me in a solution-oriented way; as I get ready to enter the professional world, I hope to work towards understanding enough about specific issues or policies to advocate for lasting, positive change.

As your reflecting on your time at Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their Mason journey? 

To a student who is just starting out at Mason, I would emphasize how important it is to be involved. I phrase that vaguely because there are so many ways to be involved as a student beyond joining clubs or spearheading research (not to downplay the value of those very worthwhile efforts!). As someone who was not super involved in the traditional sense in high school nor in community college, I have found that baby-step efforts like making connections with classmates and professors, soaking up class discussions, and even just exploring buildings on campus that I had no reason to be in have made my time at Mason feel memorable and meaningful. Find ways to be a part of the school community in a way that feels true to you.

What is your next step after graduation? What are your future plans? 

After graduation, I plan to work in non-profit, specifically in the areas of refugee resettlement or education. After a few years in the working world, I hope to go to grad school to earn an MSW and find a career niche where I can work to actualize equitable outcomes for students in American public schools.