Research Symposium

BIO

Elizabeth Yu is a 1st year majoring in Exercise Physiology. She is from Miami, Florida and has lived there all of her life! She is in the Honors Program and is pursuing a career in medicine. Elizabeth is currently doing research with Dr. Celia Reddick based on refugee children, with a focus on their educational system experiences. She is also interested in potential research involved in kinesiology and athletics.

Strengthening School Experiences for Refugee Young People, Families, and Their Teachers in Florida

Abstract

Refugee children’s resettlement into the United States frequently correlates with significant levels of trauma that place them in higher risk for emotional, behavioral, and developmental difficulties compared to their non-refugee peers. This leaves these individuals in need of critical support early into their resettlement to be able to support their long-term adjustment and well-being. This research aims to analyze the understanding and enhance the educational experiences of Tallahassee's refugee youth by recording their difficulties and experimenting with new cooperative strategies to foster inclusion among their classmates. It also aims to better understand the challenges facing Tallahassee educators and to offer information for specialized guidance and assistance. Interviews were conducted in refugee family’s homes, where the qualitative data was collected and then interpreted utilizing a coding software. Children and adults were interviewed individually to share their experiences regarding their reasons fleeing, assimilation, and in specific their experiences regarding their education.

Keywords: Refugee, education, displacement