Refuge

Refuge is a new student organization on campus whose goal is to help refugee high-school students attain higher education.

Through an online platform called Jostle, student-mentors here at Ohio State skype and message with their mentees, and work to develop a meaningful and impactful relationship that will assist them to understand the college application process, prepare for the ACT, and navigate their way through the American education system.

This past semester I have had the privilege to work with a small group of highly motivated students to serve as both a mentor and volunteer in the first year of our program. As a group we have helped run a Refugee Advocacy Training for the Columbus community, conducted an immersion experience for all of our mentees, and concluded the year with a reception dinner in their honor.

This organization has been my most valued experience thus far at Ohio State. The leadership demonstrated by the members of the Executive Board has been extraordinary. Paired with the family-like feeling among the group, and the work being done to help a community that is often looked over, Refuge has been and will continue to be an important part of my time at college.

I am more than excited to begin my role on the executive board next year as Outreach Coordinator. I hope to expand Refuge’s mark on campus, develop lasting relationships with local schools, and improve our organization’s media presence.

Year in Review

My first year at Ohio State has been a year filled with growth. Through volunteer-work with various organizations in and around Ohio State, I have been able to fine-tune my interests in order to better understand exactly what I am passionate about. Through my Arabic and Spanish classes, interactions with people from cultures I had never seen, and more in depth study on how we have reached where we are today (i.e. Colonialism, Capitalism, the Enlightenment, etc.), I can say with more certainty than ever that I would like to attend law school, specializing in Immigration Law, to help fight the current system, and to, hopefully, help create a better, more just, way to welcome others into our country.

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc .
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.   For more information, go to: http://honors-scholars.osu.edu/e-portfolio. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

Thus far at Ohio State, I have had a difficult time finding an organization that in which I would like to devote my time. After a bit of searching, I came across the organization CRIS, or Community Refugee and Immigration Services. This organization, or at least the facet that I am involved in, serves as a network to connect mentors with refugee students who are new to the Columbus community. As of yet I have completed the background check, online and in-person training and am set to receive my mentee in a matter of weeks.

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About Me

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As I am currently only a freshman at The Ohio State University, it is rather difficult to say exactly what combination of majors and minors I will end up graduating with. All I can really say with certainty is this: My name is Elizabeth Russ, I am an eighteen year old student with a strong passion for learning, especially about other cultures. I love speaking other languages, as challenging and as awkward as it can be, and I find great pleasure in learning how and why people speak, walk, and behave the way they do. Simply put, I love hearing the stories behind different perspectives.

In my free time I enjoy writing short stories, exploring the outdoors, reading fiction, playing my flute, or going out and exploring Columbus with my friends.

I am involved in the International Affairs Scholars Program, Refuge, College Democrats and the Community Refugee and Immigration Services of Columbus. As of now I am pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a specialization in International Relations and Diplomacy with minors in both Arabic and Spanish.

Upon graduation I hope to attend law school where I will study either Constitutional or International Law.