Research Symposium

BIO

Raichel Weisheit is a sophomore at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Business. She was born in Raymond, Maine, and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. Raichel conducts undergraduate research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program under the mentorship of Dr. Celia Reddick. Her research examines refugee students’ school experiences in Florida, with a focus on language barriers, friendship, belonging, and bullying. Through qualitative interviews and coding, her work explores how refugee students navigate social and academic adjustment in U.S. schools. Raichel is also involved in the Women in Pre-Law Society and is passionate about community engagement and service. After completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in law, where she hopes to advocate for others and make a meaningful impact in her community.

Refugee Students' School Experiences in Florida

Abstract

Refugee youth and their families often face unique challenges as they navigate new educational systems, including languages barriers, social exclusion, and experiences of bullying. This study explores the following research question: How do refugee young people and their families experience school in Florida, what opportunities and challenges do they face in this process, and how can collaborative, arts-based research help them overcome these challenges and promote inclusion? Understanding these experiences is important for improving school environments and support systems for refugee communities. This research uses a qualitative approach. Data consist of 20-audio recorded interviews with refugee children in Florida describing their experiences with school, family life, bullying, and belonging. The interviews are analyzed using qualitative coding, where key words and ideas are identified and organized into categories. These codes are then used to identify common themes across participants’s experiences. Results are still in process; however, early analysis suggests themes related to belonging, peer relationships, language adjustment, and support from family and community. As coding continues, this research aims to better understand both the challenges refugee students face and the factors that support inclusion. The findings will contribute to discussions about refugee education and the use of collaborative, arts-based research to promote empathy and inclusion in schools.

Keywords: Refugee Students, School Experiences, Language Barriers