A Narrative Study of Refugee Adult Learners’ Experiences in a Southeastern U.S. Community College

ABSTRACT

Imagine having to abandon your home and all that is familiar in search of safety. How would you perceive yourself in a new country, learning a new language and trying to build a new life? Millions of people around the world have experienced this reality, thousands of whom are currently living throughout the United States. Since more than half of the refugee population are under 18 years of age, the education system in the resettlement country plays a significant role in the refugee resettlement process. The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to gain a better understanding of adult refugee students’ experiences in higher education in the Southeastern U.S. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) What are the experiences of adult refugees in higher education in the United States? (2) In what ways do refugee adult learners access higher education? and (3) How do refugee adults navigate higher education in the U.S. context? By understanding the refugee experience, adult education practitioners can better mediate the impact of marginalization of refugee adult learners.