Internship Graduation: Dominic Bornman,

Social Work (Shippensburg University)

In late-August of 2023, I began a 400-hour internship with the International Service Center. Over the course of several months, I was welcomed into this agency and got to see the passion and dedication that the staff has for helping refugee communities. As an intern I was able to contribute to the agency by conducting research on upcoming programs, attending and summarizing webinars, as well as helping to produce a handful of trainings.

It was an honor that Dr. Phuong would give me the opportunity to observe, learn from, and ultimately participate in the day-to-day operations of the ISC. I feel that I’ve learnt more here in a relatively short time than I ever could have in school and for that I’m grateful. If there is one thing I can take away from my time with the ISC, it is the importance of community. Community in all its different forms. I’ve seen how a community is able to rally together to help welcome newcomers. I’ve seen how members of immigrant communities are able to rely on each other to help get through difficult times. I’ve heard extensively about how yesterday’s newcomer group can become today’s thriving local community and that those establishing themselves today will hopefully flourish in time.

More than anything else, I am grateful to the people that I was able to meet through the ISC. Dr. Phuong will often call the ISC a family. In most work settings this is simply a platitude, but with this agency and this staff I believe it’s true. The ISC has left a significant impact on me as it has with so many others throughout the years. I hope that in time I will be able to leave an impact on it.

-Dominic (December 6, 2023)