Erin Summers

Agency: Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology

Term: Fall - 2004

My internship is with the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA). I was hooked up with BARA because I showed an interest in international issues and non-profit organizations when I applied to ICYF. BARA, as a research unit, serves both domestic and foreign populations. BARA has many program areas and within each of these are several research projects. They were kicking off the Refugee Project and I was appropriately placed in the research group. The Refugee Project is still in its beginning stage, but is quickly developing into an amazing research constituent. The project’s coordinator contacted schools in Tucson with refugee populations and asked if BARA’s interns could tutor their refugee kids as a part of participant observation. Each intern has two school sites where he/she tutors refugee children or assists in any other activities the teacher may delegate. Currently, I only have one school site due to uncontrolled circumstances, but my second site is in the works. My responsibilities not only include tutoring, but I am also required to record field notes, keep a project log, and perform a rotating duty such as facilitator for our weekly team meeting.

I chose to do the internship because I wanted to gain some experience before trying to obtain a career in a professional field. I thought that this would give me some measure of a competitive edge in comparison to my peers who only complete their coursework. Basically, I’m hoping it will help me get a job. After graduation I’m not exactly sure what I want to do, but I’m preparing for it nonetheless. I think I would like to work for a non-profit organization, a humanitarian agency, or an Embassy.

I have learned a great deal about myself and the world around me since the start of my internship. I can take on and accomplish more than I would expect from myself. I’m driven and resilient. This internship has been more challenging than I expected, but has given me more confidence in my strengths and abilities, while minimizing my weaknesses. I’ve also learned that there is need in the community and the world around us that we don’t always or cannot identify. Serving others, recognizing need, and meeting it are vitally important; not only to those at a disadvantage, but also to people trying to make a difference. We are not the only ones who have something to teach. There is an enormous value in what others can teach us, even when they are in 2nd grade.

The children I work with are unbelievably courageous. They come to this country, some with no education whatsoever, not knowing English, some without their mothers or other family members, and they are thrown into this completely unfamiliar school setting. They have to follow lessons in another language, participate in activities, make friends, and survive another culture while retaining their own. One little girl had not even met me and she walked out of her class line with open arms and gave me a giant hug. Whereas another is shy, reserved, and pays little attention to my presence at all. Although it is hard to identify what is going on with each individual, it is obvious that the transition needs to be structured so it is easier on these children. Being a kid is rough.

For all of the students considering doing an internship I would say, “Go for it!” It is a great opportunity and an investment in your future. If you don’t know exactly what you want to do later in life maybe this will make it a bit clearer.

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