Sociology major talks with individuals seeking asylum during APEX Fellowship

Aimee Hernandez ’25, a sociology major at The College of Wooster, completed an APEX Fellowship at The Ohio Center for Immigration Litigation and Outreach over the summer. Located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Hernandez worked with U.S. Immigration agencies, such as the Immigration court and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), spending time researching social and political movements in countries across the world. Hernandez empathized with individuals’ stories regarding receiving asylum applications. Through this internship, Hernandez gained post-graduate insights on the different types of lawyers in the immigration field of law. 

“It was very fascinating to hear people’s life stories day-to-day and learn more about them to be able to fill out their asylum applications.”

—Aimee Hernandez ’25

Q: How did you learn about the internship opportunity for your APEX Fellowship?    

Hernandez: I learned about the position through my academic advisor Anne Nurse, professor and department co-chair of sociology and anthropology. She told me about the opportunity and how to apply for it. The internship was a good fit for me because it was in the field that I want to be in: Immigration Law.  

 Q: What interests you most about the work you did?    

Hernandez: It was very fascinating to hear people’s life stories day-to-day and learn more about them to be able to fill out their asylum applications. I also enjoyed translating legal evidence from their native language to English.  

Q: Who was your fellowship mentor and how did they help you to succeed in this position? 

 Hernandez: My fellowship mentor was Professor Regan, Whitmore-Williams associate professor and program chair of biochemistry and molecular biology at the College. She was always interested in what I had to say and genuinely cared that I was having a good time and getting what I needed out of my internship.  

Q: What are some skills you’ve learned that you see yourself carrying forward in your career?  

Hernandez: I learned the ideals of empathy and professionalism, which are crucial skills lawyers need to have to succeed. If I continue on the immigration path, having these skills will be the key to my success.  

Q: How has the internship helped you to see what’s next for you?  

Hernandez: I am interested in becoming a lawyer, so this experience was important for me. I enjoyed the experience, and I learned a lot from it. However, I don’t think I will specialize in asylum seekers that are mainly located in detention centers. 

Posted in Experiential Learning, Showcase Stories 2024 on August 10, 2024.