A Case Study in the UK with Journey to Justice: My Independent Study Research Results

We all know how COVID-19 has disrupted our lives and so many of the plans, hopes, and aspirations we had set for ourselves this year. 

And despite the fact that we know that none of this was no one's fault, it does not change the fact that many of us, including myself, have been devastated, anxious, and maybe even a little angry about all of the things we have missed out on because of this pandemic. It's okay to feel this way. It's okay to recognize that we might not be coping with all of this as well as we'd like, but sometimes it's enough to be coping at all.

For me, one of the biggest letdowns has been the cancellation of my global independent study. I was accepted, and received a $3,000 scholarship, to complete a research project over a three week period this past August with an arts-based social justice organization in the United Kingdom called Journey to Justice. I had spend months, from November of last year to March, preparing my scholarship application and then my research project to be able to complete this independent study. When it was announced that I wouldn't be able to go, I had to give back my scholarship monies, cancel my flight, and inform my Journey to Justice partners in the UK. 

But I pushed through. For a while, I just sat with my feelings, trying to cope in ways that took care of myself and those around me, and spread some love that was, and is, needed so much during this pandemic. Then I got back to work. I changed my project so that I would be able to complete it without actually going to the UK, I identified the Journey to Justice partners who would still be willing to meet with me over Zoom, and chugged ahead. 

And while I wasn't able to complete the project in the UK as I had hoped, I am still very proud of the outcome. The details and results of my research have been complied onto a website I created just for this project, as well as a short 5-minute YouTube clip that shares the highlights of the project. 

This project, and the pandemic overall, has made me realize that things rarely go as we plan. And that's okay; it's a part of life. It's a part of life to learn how to handle the uncertainties, the curveballs, and come out stronger and better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us. 

Thanks for reading, and if you're able to check out the website and/or video linked above, I'd love to hear what you think!

Stay Beautiful,

Sadie

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I want to thank those who stuck with me through the process, and had patience with me despite all of the changes due to the pandemic. I couldn't have done it without  Journey to Justice director Carrie Supple, my advisor Dr. Larry Gant, and the Journey to Justice volunteers who took the time to speak with me over Zoom since I wasn't able to come to them. Thank you, thank you.