When I first signed up for Professional Writing, I had no idea what I would find when I came to class. After touring the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), I was nervous about finding the time to volunteer with refugees and learning more about their situation. I grew up without knowing about the refugee situation, and even when the class began the Syrian crisis was a distant notion overheard at the coffee shop or doctor’s office, but so quickly my views changed. Through service-learning, I gained empathy for those who sacrifice everything in order to find safety and new homes thousands of miles away. I never imagined before how hard it is to fearfully live and flee from home, but after this class I see how brave these people are and how much they deserve safety and help from those who can provide it.
With this mindset, I also learned communication skills in the sense of patience and understanding with those whose first language isn’t English. Volunteering multiple times at NICE’s Citizenship classes, I worked with the same woman every Friday on her English as she learned required questions for her test. While she knew some English, it was eye-opening to work together to cross a language barrier she desperately wanted to knock down. By the end of each class she would be excited over the new questions she knew, and each time she would teach me new words in Arabic, which I learned was a beautiful language. It’s hard to communicate with someone who doesn’t understand, but with patience and innovation we were able to cross that barrier.
After working with NICE, I finally understand the refugee issue and the complexity behind each refugee who comes to America. With the current climate in society, I know I’ve already made an impact on those around me, especially back home in Texas. Before, my family was against immigration due to the illegal immigration currently affecting Texas, but after explaining my experiences working with my friend in NICE’s Citizenship classes and the children at their Halloween party and telling their stories on, my family better understands the hardships these people endure and now question their views towards immigration. We are no longer afraid of these people for they are just like us and need our help.
While it was difficult to find the free time to attend service-learning opportunities and to overcome the initial reluctance to dive into a new environment, NICE opened my eyes to the world’s need for people to step outside themselves, even for a day, and help those who need it most. Whenever I felt tired or that I couldn’t find the time to work, I remembered to step outside myself and my own problems and realize there’s a bigger reality than just me. If everyone in the world could do the same and step outside themselves for just a moment to help another, the world would be a much more accepting place.
Sincerely, Abbey Hull