From Burundi to Columbus
Adolphine was born in Bujumbura, Burundi. A refugee camp was the only home she knew throughout her childhood and as she entered adolescence. She was able to attend school and enjoyed doing so. In her final year of schooling at the age of 14, she and her parents and four siblings received life-changing news–they were to be resettled in the U.S.
In the summer of 2018, they took the very long trip from Burundi to Columbus, Ohio. She recalls being greeted and picked up at the airport by CRIS staff members and brought to a hotel room where a hot meal awaited them. That meal was, perhaps, her first moment of culture shock. She and her family politely asked the CRIS staff member what the meal was, and he explained that it was chicken. She humorously recalls thinking to herself, “That doesn’t look like any chicken I’ve ever had!” She also chuckles as she remembers, “I don’t think I ate for the first month I was here.” Slowly, she and her family began to acclimate to their new home–the food, the grocery shopping, transportation–with the help of CRIS staff and volunteers and Congolese neighbors in the community. Adolphine’s parents began working and she and her four younger siblings were enrolled in school as August rolled around that year.
She attended Columbus Global Academy (CGA), where she and her sister were connected with CRIS’ youth mentorship program Community Connectors and Jeremy Hollon, who leads the program. They were each assigned to a mentor with whom they began to meet on a regular basis–spending time together, exploring Columbus, practicing English, and more. Adolphine’s English steadily improved and she enjoyed academic success and close friendships at CGA. She began working part-time at a local African restaurant but continued to prioritize her studies and relationships–including with her Community Connectors mentor. As a rising 11th grader, Adolphine was transferred to Mifflin High School where she made new friends and continued to progress in her academic success. She graduated from Mifflin in 2022.
In 2023, Adolphine and her sister knew that the time was approaching when they would be eligible for U.S. citizenship. They contacted Hollon, who connected them with CRIS immigration attorney Vincent Wells. Through CRIS Legal Services, the young sisters completed the necessary paperwork and scheduled their USCIS interviews. Wells accompanied them to their USCIS interview, where they both received the good news: “You passed!” Just a couple of weeks later, they both attended their oath ceremony accompanied by Hollon in support of their accomplishments.
Hollon reflects, “I was lucky enough to be invited to Adolphine and her sister’s naturalization at Ohio History Connection. The pride they had and this being a culmination of the work they put in was something I will never forget. Her entire family has been a part of Community Connectors. Witnessing those moments—high school graduation, getting a driver’s license, making friends, a citizenship ceremony, starting college or work—these are the moments that make the program special. We live within those moments, and we support the in-between as a resource and friend.”
When Adolphine considers how her journey has unfolded over the last five years, she smiles and says, “I am thankful for CRIS and how much they have supported me and my family–through resettlement, our mentors, and now in becoming U.S. citizens.” She is currently studying at Columbus State Community College and plans to transfer to The Ohio State University to complete a degree in nursing. Her sister is also studying nursing at Denison University. When asked about her future dreams, Adolphine shares, “My parents have worked so hard for me and my younger siblings. I want to buy them a house one day!”
Summertime is a great time to explore mentorship with Community Connectors. Contact Jeremy Hollon for more information.