For my STEP Signature Project, I volunteered with SafeHaven, a domestic violence service provider in Arlington, Texas. Over the course of three weeks, I conducted a literature review on the identification of primary aggressors in cases of domestic violence and then wrote a white paper for SafeHaven. To clarify, the primary aggressor in a case of domestic violence is the individual who presents the most serious and ongoing threat; a current issue with domestic violence cases is the misidentification of female victims as offenders. The white paper proposes that a primary aggressor assessment tool be created for multiagency use; additionally, it outlines various factors identified in the research that warrant careful consideration in cases of domestic violence, such as the use of self-defense and history of domestic violence.

Working with SafeHaven has had a tremendous impact on how I view myself, my assumptions, and the world. I began the process without a thorough understanding of domestic violence or what a white paper even was. As I completed the paper and gained knowledge on the topic, I was able to discuss with Kathryn Jacob, the CEO of SafeHaven, about issues experienced while handling cases of domestic violence. Volunteering with SafeHaven was truly transformational because I witnessed how my work as an individual held influence in the real world, especially by helping service providers voice their concerns regarding how cases are currently handled. For the first time in my life, I was proud to share my work with anyone who was willing to listen, and I felt that the paper had a positive impact on others as they learned about domestic violence as an ongoing, serious social problem.

Along with changes to my self-perception, I experienced alterations in my beliefs and world view. Many negative assumptions surround domestic violence, such as the question of why women do not just leave their abusers. After thoroughly researching the topic, I am now able to address common misunderstandings of domestic violence; for instance, women may stay with their abuser for financial reasons or to maintain contact with their children. In this way, I feel as if I am able to further support victims of domestic violence who often feel revictimized by the system. Furthermore, I have a much greater appreciation for survivors and service providers who may face endless challenges when trying to achieve justice.

Throughout my STEP Signature Project, I had the opportunity to interact and develop relationships with various members of the SafeHaven team. For instance, as I gained knowledge about the difficulties with identifying primary aggressors in cases of domestic violence, I was able to effectively and efficiently communicate with Kathryn about her related experiences and concerns. Interacting with her enabled me to include a real-world and current perspective into the white paper. Furthermore, each person I had the chance to meet at SafeHaven was clearly passionate about their work toward ending domestic violence. The work environment at SafeHaven supported my transformation because those surrounding me were willing to help with my project in any way. Overall, the relationships I developed and meaningful interactions I had with other passionate individuals at SafeHaven made me feel like I was participating in work with the potential to positively impact the lives of domestic violence survivors.

One significant event that occurred on the first day of my STEP Signature project was a domestic violence related murder-suicide in Fort Worth, Texas. I had just begun the literature review for the white paper on identifying primary aggressors when the local news began contacting SafeHaven for Kathryn Jacob to speak about the case. The event immediately gave prominence to the importance of my project toward ending domestic violence and provided an impetus for my transformational experience. The murder-suicide further affected my perspective of domestic violence by drawing attention to the seriousness and possible lethality of such cases. A strong indicator of increased risk for homicide in cases of domestic violence is strangulation, which I dedicated a section to in the white paper.

To continue, an activity that played a role in my transformational experience was visiting one of SafeHaven’s shelters. As I walked through the shelter and firsthand witnessed the services SafeHaven offers to victims of domestic violence, I was able to imagine the value that my project could have in the real world. By improving the identification of primary aggressors in cases of domestic violence, I can support the well-being of victims and prevent further victimization by the system. Additionally, after learning that the shelter often has more children than adults, I realized the expansive impact that SafeHaven has as a service provider. Through my work with SafeHaven, I can help improve the lives of both survivors of domestic violence and their children.

Lastly, the research itself supported my personal transformation as I strengthened and developed skills for working independently and in collaboration with others to produce the best possible version of the white paper. Furthermore, as I became well versed in the topic of identifying primary aggressors, I gained confidence in addressing certain controversies related to domestic violence. For instance, SafeHaven utilizes gender specific language, with an offender as a male and a victim as a female; after conducting a thorough literature review, I was able to defend their position when discussing with others. To clarify, SafeHaven does not deny that male victims exist, but it supports that most batterers are male, and most victims are female. Overall, becoming educated on a topic that I previously knew little about and then sharing the information with others based on the research I gathered greatly supported my personal transformation. I watched as my work had a visible impact on those who read it, giving me hope that the white paper will have a real-world influence on survivors.

The transformation I experienced due to my STEP signature project is significant to my life because I reached all of my set goals and more. For my personal goals, I was able to directly aid in the fight against domestic violence by volunteering with SafeHaven. Due to the personal significance service holds in my life and community, participating in the efforts of SafeHaven to best serve victims of domestic violence provided a sense of fulfillment. In addition, I reached my personal goal of better understanding domestic violence victims and offenders through the extensive research process and interacting with Kathryn Jacob. By extension, my professional goals were met as I interacted and developed relationships with passionate people all aiming to serve in the fight against domestic violence. Moreover, I developed a professional network through working with SafeHaven and have the opportunity to continue supporting their mission.

In addition, volunteering with SafeHaven as my STEP signature project has provided direction to my career path. I was able to gain entry into the field of criminal justice by working with a domestic violence service provider and researching challenges faced throughout the stages of handling a domestic violence case. Additionally, the transformation was valuable because I was able to conduct research in a field of interest; the white paper I created aims to improve the system’s handling of domestic violence cases, bringing it closer to justice. Through writing the paper, I felt like a valuable contributor to the fight against domestic violence. I believe the research I conducted is significant to my education, especially by presenting challenges and allowing me to apply my knowledge and skills in a real-world context. In conclusion, Ohio State gave me the chance to have a transformational experience and that’s exactly how I would describe my time spent with SafeHaven.

SafeHaven 2

TruePrimaryAggressor – KB Finalized 

During my time at the Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy (CMERA), I engaged in lectures on Florida’s shark and stingray populations, assisted researchers on tagging sharks and rays, and partook in gathering data on the caught cartilaginous fishes. To catch the sharks and rays, I would set out tangle nets and longlines for a certain amount of time and then pull the lines back in. I worked with a team of other college students from across the country. Over the two-week project, I really bonded with the other participants.

Before arriving, I was nervous about not knowing anyone. I was about to be working around a group of strangers, and I did not know what to expect. But once I arrived, I was amazed at how fast I connected to my roommates and other participants. I met college students from all over the United States, and even Iceland, Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Italy. While most participants were studying marine biology, there were many other majors there like environmental science, scuba diving, zoology, pre-med track, and more. It was amazing to experience an extremely diverse community with one goal: to help Florida’s shark and stingray population.

Specifically, Jaret Cingel made me feel welcomed to the program. Jaret was the first CMERA intern that I met, and we quickly connected because we are both Ohio State students! He moved me into the condo that I was staying at and introduced me to my four roommates. When I was feeling incredibly nervous, he was there to answer any questions that I had. On days that we were on the same boat, we would talk about our favorite places around Columbus, the shoe, and the classes that we both took at Ohio State. Jaret and I hope to meet up and reconnect next time that we are both up in Columbus.

Jaret was not the only connection I made while working with CMERA. I was paired with wonderful roommates who I will miss very much. Over the two weeks, we became very close. During the day, we would work together on the boat, taking turns doing different jobs, and celebrating together when we catch and tag a shark. While we were not working on the boat, we would be cooking together, watching comedies, and going to the local ice cream shop. I had so much fun working with them, and I am glad to have connections in California, New York City, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Not only did I bond with students and interns, but I also bonded with the professors and marine biologists. Learning about their research and their personal conservation efforts was inspirational. Witnessing the teamwork that they had was a great example of what I want my future career to be like.

I got to see lots of marine life while working with CMERA. One of my favorite catches was a spotted eagle ray. This type of ray is endangered, and CMERA only catches a handful every season. It was caught on the net that I was leading, and it was pouring when we were handling the stingray. The spotted eagle ray was carefully handled, measured, and tagged, and then released back into the ocean. One weekend, we went kayaking and during the trip, we saw a manatee and its newborn baby. The highlight of the project is when we caught a three-meter tiger shark. Tiger sharks are near-threatened and extremely hard to catch. It took everybody’s strength and teamwork to handle this massive shark. After the shark was satellite tagged and carefully released, the boat celebrated. The tiger shark that we caught is the largest shark that CMERA has ever recorded. The hands-on experience that I got during my project is crucial to my personal, academic, and career life.

Most of my classes at Ohio State are focused on ecosystems in Ohio, so getting to explore Florida ecosystems was unique for me to learn about. Diversifying my knowledge of ecosystems around the world makes me a more experienced environmental scientist. When I graduate, I would love to move to a different state, so getting experience in Florida further develops my range of ecosystems. Not only did I learn about the local Florida ecosystems and marine life, but I got a taste of the professional research world. The work that I did with CMERA directly relates to the field that I want to go into after I graduate. This volunteer trip will aid me in my career in many ways. I had the ability to explore a potential future in wildlife protection and ecosystem management. Both these topics play a large role in the environmental science field. I was also able to see how people work together to achieve their research goals. I learned a lot from observing the marine biologist team collaborate and bounce off ideas with each other.

An important goal of mine was that this service would help me reconnect to my values of appreciating nature and being passionate to learn about the environment again. I desired to have a positive impact on the ecosystem, and that I helped the local sharks and stingrays. I believe that I accomplished this goal. The hands-on service that I did made me feel optimistic about the future again, and I witnessed the impact that research can have on protecting threatened species. I was reminded what in-person lectures are like, and what it is like to connect to what I am learning again. I found myself much more engaged while learning face-to-face with a professor. My excitement for my future career based on restoring the environment has been reignited.