DRAFT CAPSTONE PROJECT

 CANVA

Capstone Project

I want my influence to be in supporting first-generation, low-income students and those with disabilities as they navigate college. I understand the unique challenges they face, and I want to create a space where they feel seen and valued.

My goal is to provide guidance that’s tailored to their experiences, helping them find the resources they need, advocating for their rights, and connecting them with supportive communities. I want to empower them to overcome obstacles and build their confidence, so they know they can succeed in their academic journeys and beyond. It’s all about making sure they feel they belong and that their voices matter.

After our class discussion a few weeks ago about our projects, I’ve been thinking about splitting mine into two parts. The first part will look at staff, what drives them to work at SSS and whether they feel they’re providing care. The second part will focus on students, what drives them to come to SSS and if they feel cared for. I also want to explore the idea of community and how students define it in our space. Plus, I plan to incorporate the values at SSS, similar to the Ydev anchors of the program. I believe this will give us a deeper understanding of our space and the experiences we share. I'm still going back and forth on what exactly I am going to research and choose to focus on. I think speaking with staff and students in SSS will help me figure out which direction to go in. 

One of the questions I asked in week two was, "How can I make a greater impact?" I really feel like this project is going to help me find new ways to do that and feel more inspired. 

Eve Tuck, Suspending Damage

Eve Tuck's article emphasizes the importance of celebrating resilience in marginalized communities rather than just focusing on their struggles and hardships. She advocates for a shift in research narratives to highlight the strengths, creativity, and agency of these communities. By doing this, researchers can gain a more balanced and comprehensive understanding, recognizing both challenges and positive contributions. This approach not only empowers communities but also enriches the overall perspective on their experiences.

Tuck’s insights have really made me rethink how I see myself, especially regarding my struggles and strengths. She challenges me to stop focusing only on the hard times and to recognize that my life includes both challenges and successes. This perspective helps me be kinder to myself and appreciate my journey more. Recognizing my struggles is important, but it’s equally as important for me to celebrate my strengths and achievements. Finding this balance helps me build a more positive self-image and encourages my personal growth. It reminds me that while I should acknowledge my challenges, they don’t define who I am. We are so much more than our struggles. Tuck’s ideas inspire me to focus on empowerment and resilience. She encourages me to celebrate how I’ve navigated challenging situations, reinforcing that I am capable of growth and change. Reading this article helped me realize that my story is complex. 

Learning about "survivance" has added another layer to this understanding. It emphasizes that my story is not just about surviving difficulties but also about thriving and celebrating my resilience. Reading about survivance has helped me see that I can embrace my complexities, recognizing that I can be a work in progress while still having the strength to overcome challenges. Tuck’s ideas encourage me to celebrate how far I've come and the ways I've grown, reinforcing that I am capable of change and positive growth. Overall, this journey of learning about survivance and Tuck’s insights has deepened my appreciation for my own story and the many layers that make me who I am.

This article raises the importance of understanding our own stories and recognizing all the different experiences we have. It reminds me that everyone has a unique journey that includes both struggles and successes. Learning about survivance and Tuck’s ideas has helped me appreciate my own story and the many layers that shape who I am. It also inspires me to help others see the value in their experiences, encouraging them to celebrate their strengths and resilience too.

Celebrate yourself :) 

Restler, from What Do You Do That Can’t Be Measured

Restler highlights the significant impact of unquantifiable actions like personal connections, emotional support, and mentorship. It shows that the true value of our efforts often lies in fostering growth, resilience, and confidence in others, even when those effects are hard to measure.

This chapter helps me think about myself and others by reinforcing the idea that our worth isn’t solely defined by measurable achievements. It highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and the relationships we build. I realize that my interactions with students and colleagues can foster growth and resilience in ways that may not be easily quantified, but are impactful.

As a college advisor for first-generation, low-income students and those with disabilities, my role goes beyond academics. I help students navigate college life and access important resources, but the conversations we have about our personal journeys, our challenges and successes are what truly matter. By celebrating their achievements, big or small, I help boost their confidence and affirm their worth. This reflects Restler’s focus on the value of unmeasurable actions, showing how building connections and offering emotional support can make a lasting impact. These discussions create a safe space where students can express themselves without fear of judgment. Ultimately, the care and support I provide shape my students’ college experiences in ways that go beyond traditional metrics, highlighting that education is about personal growth as much as academic success.

My dedication to being there for students during tough times, whether by listening or offering a kind word can’t be measured, but it is crucial for their overall well-being. The connections I build help them feel seen and appreciated, supporting their growth in ways that go beyond just academics. Ultimately, these unmeasurable aspects of my work shape their college experience and create a strong, supportive community.

Need a pep talk? Watch this :)

Maxwell

"Your relationships with the people in your study can be complex and changeable, and these relationships will necessarily affect you as the “research instrument,” as well as have implications for other components of your research design. My changing relationships with the people in the Inuit community in which I conducted my dissertation research (Maxwell, 1986) had a profound effect not only on my own state of mind, but also on who I was able to interview, my opportunities for observation of social life, the quality of the data I collected, the research questions I was able to answer, and my ability to test my conclusions. The term reflexivity (Hammersley & Atkinson, 1995) is often used for this unavoidable mutual influence of the research participants and the researcher on each other."

What stood out to me about the quote is how important the relationships between researchers and participants are to the research process. The idea of reflexivity really caught my attention because it shows that these relationships can influence the data collected and the questions I may ask. This shows me that building trust and understanding with participants is really important for getting better insights and more reliable results. This stood out to me even more because it reminded me of what Rachael said in class. She emphasized the importance of getting to know the folks you're interviewing, understanding their work and organization, and approaching the research with care. It’s not just about asking for an interview but taking the time to truly connect with them.

Question - I will most likely be interviewing students within SSS. Reading this article made me think more about my role as an Advisor in the space. How can I make sure that when interviewing them, my role doesn't affect their responses? Even if I don't think it would, I also want to be mindful of that.

Systems of Care

"The inadequacy of the Rhode Island behavioral health system – which, underfunded for years, has led to workforce shortages, siloed state agency approaches and policies, and waiting lists that leave families at risk."

This quote stood out to me because it points out the serious issues within the Rhode Island behavioral health system. It shows how years of not providing enough funding have created obstacles that make it difficult for families to get the support they need. It shows how important it is to invest in mental health services and improve cooperation between agencies. When these systems are disconnected, families experience long wait times and less access to care, making their situations worse. When resources are stretched thin, the quality of care can suffer, leaving vulnerable children and families without the support they need. More money needs to be invested in services and made more accessible. Agencies also need to collaborate and create a system together that can truly support families. This would help children and families get the care they need and improve their mental health and overall well-being. 

Reading this made me think of RIC. I work at Student Support Services, and while we provide many great resources and support, we sometimes need to refer students to other offices for additional support. I’m working to collaborate more with other offices on campus, to try to be more effective as a college and provide even more resources and support for all of our students. The difference we could make by working together more often and sharing our resources would be huge! 

Words I associate with "Research" or "Data" - Evidence, Statistics, Barriers, Outcomes, Surveys

YDEV MA CAPSTONE PROJECTS

Seeing everyone’s beautiful capstone projects is really inspiring! Before I figured out my topic, I was a little stressed. But now that I know what I want to focus on, I’m excited. I look forward to exploring people’s experiences and perceptions through interviews, observations, and artifact analysis. It was great to see other projects and learn about the topics they chose and why they chose it.

I am most passionate about supporting first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities. I want my capstone project to center around Student Support Services, focusing on how the Ydev Anchors, like purposeful play, social justice and advocacy, care, leading with and identity show up in our space. I also want to explore access and community and what that really looks like in our space. I aim to create a supportive space that meets the needs of our students and fosters a strong community where everyone feels valued. This project will also provide me with a chance to dive deeper with students and make more of an impact.

Random things that my job and this project has me thinking more about: Creating peer support groups and mentorship programs that connect upperclassmen with first-year students to help them feel more comfortable and supported. I want to organize/create workshops on advocacy and social justice for students to share their needs and feel empowered. I also want to create an online resource hub for our students that would give students easy access to important information, on and off campus resources, events and more. This project has me feeling a bit overwhelmed with ideas, but it also is inspiring me to have a more meaningful impact.

Click this link to learn more about the Ydev Anchors.