Research Symposium

BIO

Aditi is a second year student at FSU, with a major in Literature/Media/Culture and pursuing a certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is a 2026 Global Scholar, and plans to continue pursuing refugee-centered research in the future.

Relocation and Resilience: Educational Challenges and Experiences of Refugee Students in Florida Schools

Abstract

Since 2024, over 500 refugees have arrived in Old Town. Strengthening Experiences for Refugee Young People, Families, and Their Teachers in Old Town seeks to understand the lived and educational experiences of refugee people and their teachers and peers in Old Town. Financial burdens, lack of community support, hindrances in language, culture, academic progress, and feelings of isolation are a small portion of the vast amount of issues that refugees face on a daily basis, especially in the United States where no further refugee families will be welcomed.
The study conducts over 80 structured, on-site interviews with refugee children and adults from Afghanistan, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to gain insight on the different perspectives among refugees adjusting to a new life in the U.S. Through certified thematic coding, the study analyzes interview data to generate broad themes emerging about the refugees regarding their attitudes and interconnected experiences at school, home, and work. Highlighted issues include bullying, social exclusion, language barriers, and struggles with identity.
The study’s long-term implications will share vital data about the population, origins, and school experiences of Old Town refugees through an intervention model that will hopefully drive future educational policymaking, inform local stakeholders, and address the social and relational needs of refugee young people and their peers. Through meeting refugee children and young adults in their homes and understanding their experiences, this study hopes to pinpoint places of improvement to strengthen both current and future refugee experiences.

Keywords: Refugees, education, school experiences