Resilience in Motion – From Personal History to Policy Vision
Monday, June 2, 2025
Title: Finding My Way Back – Confidence, Navigation & Identity
Today I made my first solo journey through Vienna to return to the Traumazentrum for a bandage change. Using the tram system independently and navigating my route without anxiety felt like a symbolic milestone. My increasing comfort in this unfamiliar city reflected a deeper shift—confidence in my academic voice, presence in professional spaces, and trust in my instincts. I spent the rest of the day reflecting on the early days of this program and journaling about how much I’ve already grown. The journey was about more than stitches—it was about reclaiming agency and reaffirming my purpose.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Title: From Policy to Practice – Exploring the Rule of Law in Vienna
We explored how the UNODC and its partners implement legal frameworks to counter organized crime. I was especially drawn to discussions about early intervention programs targeting at-risk youth. I thought about the teenagers I’ve fostered—some at the cusp of incarceration, others on the brink of hope. I imagined how access to mentorship, financial education, and community-based counseling might have changed their paths. The rule of law cannot be theoretical—it must reach into classrooms, community centers, and homes. Today reminded me that the law I want to practice must be proactive, compassionate, and rooted in prevention.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Title: Building Bridges – From Foster Youth to UN Policy
Our seminars focused on treaty enforcement and state cooperation. In small group discussions, I shared how my time in foster care shaped my understanding of justice and vulnerability. My peers appreciated the perspective I brought, and for the first time, I saw how my background offered more than just a “unique story”—it offered insight into how laws affect real people. I began mapping connections between juvenile justice, family law, and international protection mechanisms. Law isn’t just something I study—it’s something I’ve survived. That gives my advocacy moral weight and emotional urgency.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Title: Empowerment through Education – Where Experience Meets Advocacy
Our final session of the week examined how trauma survivors and grassroots leaders can guide criminal justice reforms. I was moved by discussions of peer-led diversion programs and restorative justice circles. I imagined how these tools could be implemented in underserved neighborhoods in the U.S.—places like where I grew up. I thought about how my foster kids might one day live in a world where their pain isn’t pathologized but understood. I left class teary-eyed but energized. This education is not only shaping my mind—it’s healing my heart. I am not just a student. I am a future advocate walking in her purpose.
Friday, June 6, 2025
Title: Crossing the Danube – A Day in Bratislava
Today we left Vienna behind and journeyed by boat to Bratislava, Slovakia. The ride across the Danube was picturesque and peaceful, ushering us into a city full of charm and history. I toured the castle once tied to Marie Antoinette’s family and wandered cobbled streets framed by pastel facades and blooming summer flowers. I stopped at a quiet café for espresso and indulged in a pastry before heading to the city square. There, I shared a playful moment with a bronze statue of Napoleon—asking “Alles ist gut?” and laughing to myself. Bratislava offered something rare: the chance to be both a curious traveler and a reflective student of history. Every detail—from the castle walls to the café aromas—felt like a bridge between the past and the present.