Graduate aims to strengthen families by helping those affected by adverse childhood effects

April 21, 2022

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.

Sometimes our experiences in life give us a kind of determination that can’t be stopped. Jennifer Nakagawa, is proving that our circumstances in life don’t determine our outcome. Jennifer Nakagawa in her ASU cap and gown Image provided by Jennifer Nakagawa. Download Full Image

As a teen mom, Nakagawa worked really hard towards providing a stable life for her and her son. This meant putting off college so she could work to earn a living. She never thought she’d be able to get a college education, but always wished she could.

In 2016, she lost her sister, who came from the same background but took a very different path in life. She witnessed her sister's eight kids go through the foster care system and started to volunteer to help foster youth in her community. This planted the seed for her wanting to do something more with youth in need.

While working at Starbucks, she would often encourage her younger coworkers to take advantage of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. Many took her advice and later encouraged Nakagawa to also go to college through the program. With the support of her family and husband, she decided to pursue her dream of earning a college degree.

Nakagawa is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in family and human development, along with minors in social welfare and justice studies. Nakagawa's achievement and all of her accomplishments along the way are a stunning example of persistence in following your dreams, no matter what life brings you.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?

Answer: I wouldn’t say there was one specific “aha” moment for me, but several moments throughout my life have contributed to my decision to study family and human development. The event that motivated me to finally commit to returning to school to earn my degree was in 2016 after the loss of my sister. After her death I began to volunteer as a court appointed special advocate working with foster youth in my community of San Joaquin County. Seeing the struggles of families in crisis and the issues within the system, I decided I wanted to do more than just volunteer. I want to contribute to the growth and empowerment of youth in need, but also to support preventative measures and policies for families, which is why I chose to double minor in justice studies and social welfare.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU – in the classroom or otherwise – that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: I have always considered myself to be an inclusive individual who cares about social justice and equality. Throughout my academic journey here at ASU I was surprised to learn how little I actually knew about racial and social justice and at how truly passionate I am about being more than an ally standing in solidarity with modern civil rights movements, but taking action, speaking up and being a co-conspirator in the fight for social, racial and economic equality. I am grateful for the in-depth learning of intersectionality, specifically because it has helped me to think more critically about the complexities of populations, policies, systems and their interconnectedness.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: I am a 15-year partner with Starbucks Coffee Company. After years of championing the Starbucks College Achievement Plan for partners I have worked with, and putting our oldest son through college — he is a first-generation college graduate and we have another son that will one day go to college — one of my partners and my husband, Tosh, challenged me to take my own advice and pursue my dream of earning a degree through ASU. ASU’s partnership with Starbucks and creating access and opportunity for partners to earn a degree in higher education is one of the many reasons ASU continues to be the most innovative university in the nation.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: I have learned so many lessons from so many professors over these last four years, but Dr. Jodi Swanson is and has been the most influential, inspiring and motivational professor I have worked with. She has taught me about the importance of education; challenging yourself to grow; not only thinking critically but to reflect on those thoughts; building a community; of being seen and of seeing others. Here in my final semester at ASU, I have experienced some heavy trials. Dr. Swanson has taught me that my education is my own, that it can never be taken from me, but more importantly my education is not the only thing that defines me. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a professor so vested in my personal, academic and professional growth. I have seen this behavior from Dr. Swanson with every student she comes into contact with. She shows up and she connects in a meaningful way. I hope to do the same.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: This is tough because I am also a mom. Higher education is a privilege and you are going to get out of it what you put into it, so take advantage of this opportunity to learn about yourself, what you believe in, what you stand for, and be self-full — it is not selfish — in making decisions about your future. Take advantage of all the wrap-around services ASU offers to aid in your success. Work with your academic adviser; I cannot praise Lisa Barth enough for the support she has given me all these years. Utilize your success coach. Reach out when you are in challenging times because there are so many resources available to you. ASU is truly dedicated to your academic career’s success.

Q: What was your favorite spot for power studying?

A: When I started ASU, I would set up and study at my kitchen table. My husband helped me transform our oldest son’s bedroom to an office/guest room after he went away to college. I have motivational quotes, tranquil blue walls, an oil diffuser, two screens and a sitting/standing desk that I have spent many hours studying at. The best part is that I can walk away and close the door until the next study session.

Q: What are your plans for after graduation?

A: I am committed to furthering my education and earning a master’s in social work. Currently I am in the process of applying to graduate schools. However, life is a journey, and we as human beings are constantly changing and adapting throughout the journey. I am sure that as I continue to evolve in my academic career, I will learn more about the field of social work and the many avenues that are available, and my desired position is likely to change.

More importantly to me is that my career reflects my heart and fulfils my life’s ambition to meet individuals and families where they are, to support their efforts in achieving their goals, to empower them, to be a part of changing policies that create access and opportunity that contribute to thriving lives and equality. It may sound clichéd, but I truly do want to be the change in the world I wish to see, and it is my hope that in doing so, my behavior would be a model to those I encounter — inspiring and motivating them to make small and mighty changes in the lives of the people they meet and the world we live in. I am an optimist at heart, and I believe we can collectively create positive change.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I will say that in today’s economy, I do not believe $40 million is enough to solve any of the problems on our planet. That said, I do believe it is a great way to start something locally in your own community that could contribute to the ripple effect of change in the world. For me, because I am so passionate about investing in the youth of today for the future of tomorrow, I think we need to focus on preventative measures that strengthen families.

What we have learned about adverse childhood effects and how they contribute to both physical and mental health disparities, it is important that we continue research as well as utilize this information to support adults/youth that have been affected by ACEs. This work is complex and complicated by the fact that it requires both intervention and prevention methods to create generational and institutional change. Building a local community model inclusive of resources, support and research that can be scaled to a larger model to impact change would be my ideal use of funds.

Shelley Linford

Marketing and Communications Manager, T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics

shelley.linford@asu.edu

Graduate's advice: Don't artificially separate who you are and what you do

Mikko Hallikainen head and shoulder picture

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.Mikko Hallikainen, who is graduating this spring with dual degrees in sociology and geography, a minor in sustainability and a certificate in geographic information science, advises incoming students to find ways to intersect your interests with your studies to really have a meaningful college experienc...

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Graduate's advice: Don't artificially separate who you are and what you do

April 21, 2022

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.

Mikko Hallikainen, who is graduating this spring with dual degrees in sociology and geography, a minor in sustainability and a certificate in geographic information science, advises incoming students to find ways to intersect your interests with your studies to really have a meaningful college experience. Mikko Hallikainen head and shoulder picture Image provided by Mikko Hallikainen Download Full Image

Hallikainen received the New American University Scholarship Provost Award all four years of his undergraduate program and Ray Henkel Scholarship Award from the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning for getting the highest-ranked grade point average of any graduating senior, which was a meaningful award for him because he said it has pushed him to pursue graduate school.

“Mikko is a student you can always count on for thoughtful responses and engagement, and the quality of his work is outstanding,” said Connor Sheehan, one of Mikko’s former professors and his honor’s thesis adviser.

Hallikainen hopes to intersect his interests in geography and sociology to research how technology affects human development. He feels online communication is becoming more and more dominant as our main source of communicating, especially since there are no constraints geographically. He is interested in learning how this online culture affects our world.

Hallikainen says is looking forward in pursuing graduate school in the future and hopes to make an impact with his research. Here he talks a little more about his experience at ASU.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?

Answer: In my freshman year of high school, myself and a handful of other freshmen got placed into an AP Human Geography class through a scheduling error. Despite freshmen normally not being allowed to take AP classes, we were given the option to stay as the issue was not discovered until about a month in. It was a real watershed moment for me, not only seeing that the field of geography involved more than remembering countries and capitals, but visceral understanding that the scientific method can be used to study human beings and the cultures they produce. That class introduced me to the means, methods, and results of serious social science and convinced me that it was a field worth pursuing.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: It’s not something I learned in the classroom, but while I was at ASU, I learned that exercise can be a ton of fun, but you need to shop around. Early on I had a hard time working up the motivation to get regular exercise because I was mostly during monotonous routines like jogging or push-ups in my dorm room. Later, I picked up a bike to get around campus and I started to work out more just because it was more fun to bike then it was to jog. During the pandemic, I ended up acquiring a set of rollerblades and now I can’t wait to get a work out in. If you find an exercise that's fun you will end up with a far better workout then if you use an exercise that is more intensive but boring or a chore.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: It's not very glamorous but a lot of my choice to go to ASU was financial. On top of in-state tuition, my mother worked as a university employee at the time, which reduced my tuition significantly. When it came down to a final decision, it was between UC Santa Barbara at a great personal expense or ASU with the aforementioned benefits and a provost scholarship to boot. In hindsight, I can safely say that I made the right decision.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: I have had a number of amazing mentors while attending ASU who have all taught me incredibly important things, both related to their course material and applicable to life more generally. The ones that come to mind most immediately are Dr. Cassandra Cotton, Dr. Dylan Connor and Dr. Connor Sheehan. Professor Cotton was instrumental in my decision to apply for graduate school, not only solidifying my interest in pursuing research through her research methods class, but helping me throughout the application process. Professors Connor and Sheehan have also been incredibly supportive, both through advising for my honor thesis, and teaching me how to do intensive statistical and qualitative analysis and encouraging me to apply those skills towards my personal interests.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: In terms of pre-college advice, I would relay the words of wisdom I received from one of my high school teachers: “College is one of the most expensive things you will ever buy, but if you spend these four years in high school really applying yourself and staying focused, you can get the university to pay you to show up.”

In terms of advice for undergraduates, I would say don’t artificially separate who you are and what you do. Over the course of my degree I must have written a half dozen papers and projects that linked to personal interests, including my honors thesis on the geography of metal music. There are almost always ways to apply your academic skills and knowledge towards personal interests, the results of such endeavors will be some of the most rewarding of your time in college.

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: Bar none, my favorite spot on campus is Hayden Library room C5. Every Wednesday the room hosts the ASU Album Listening Club, which has been one of the most enriching and supportive communities I have ever been a part of. It’s formatted like a book club, but instead of reading a book each week you listen to an album from a rotating set of genres that the club votes on. The club has not only greatly expanded my music tastes, but introduced me to some of the best people I have known over the last four years.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I know that post-graduation I want to pursue research. I am specifically interested in studying the internet, both as a distinct form of communication, but also as the chief generator and diffuser of culture across the globe in the modern era. Growing up in one of the first entirely connected generations, the internet and the culture it produces have been an ingrained part of my entire life and I want to be able to apply the social and geographic research skills I acquired in college towards better understanding the means and mechanism of that cultural landscape. Right now, I am still in the process of working out whether that means going to grad school immediately after graduating or spending a few years getting my feet wet in a work environment, but I am hopeful for the future in either case.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: The bummer with taking so many sustainability and sociology classes that discuss wicked problems is that you learn there are very few major issues that could be solved by throwing $40 million at them. While I don’t think it could come close to completely solving the issue, I think I would put the funds towards advocating for trans rights and the betterment of conditions for LGBTQ+ people more generally. The hostility with which trans people are treated on an individual and legislative level is untenable, especially as their mere existence has become an issue of fraught political debate. $40 million can’t solve the issue — it's doubtful that any amount of money could “solve” systemic discrimination —but it's money that could go to advocacy, organizations and charities that push us closer to a more equal future.