Gaining a global perspective

By Brittany Dunnigan

Free time is a foreign concept to graduate student Khulude Bukhari. From her studies to her job and volunteer work at The Welcome Center and West Fargo Community High School, she is actively pursuing her dream of becoming a school counselor.

Pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling and Student Affairs, Bukhari has a passion for helping people, especially children and families. She also enjoys working with refugees. After moving from another country to the United States for school, Bukhari understands the challenge of adapting to a new culture.

Bukhari grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree before enrolling in the MSUM graduate program and moving to the United States. Her mother is originally from Minnesota.

“Growing up, I have always been interested in different cultures, probably because I am from two very different cultures,” Bukhari said. “I want to share my experience and passion for diverse cultures with others and help them be aware of things to consider when working with people from different countries.”

Bukhari embraces this passion both inside and outside of the classroom. Upon first moving to Fargo in 2010, she began working at Charism, an afterschool program designed specifically for refugee and immigrant students. This experience, as well as her recent work as an intern for The Welcome Center and West Fargo Community High School, inspired her to present at this year’s Student Academic Conference on April 14.

Bukhari’s presentation, “Assisting refugees with resettling in a new community,” is a compilation of her research and personal experience intended to raise awareness and assist educators who are working with refugees. By helping educators become aware of the needs of refugee students and their families, she hopes they will be better able to help these individuals.

“The goal of the presentation is cultural competency,” Bukhari said. “An understanding of the reasons why these refugee families are seeking refuge here, considering what they may have experienced and what they may have gone through.”

Bukhari believes this topic is incredibly relevant because the refugee population in Fargo-Moorhead continues to increase at a rapid rate. She explained that there will be an increase in the number of refugees from Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the community in the next couple of years. That is why she wants to help people understand these refugee families’ needs and how to help them.

“The political conditions of the refugees fleeing to our area do not define their culture or who they are,” Bukhari said. “I want to help people look past that and not judge them for it. These people fled their countries because of discrimination, so we need to help them as they search for happiness.”

For more information about this year’s Student Academic Conference, visit www.mnstate.edu/sac/.