Joseph Minani - The Mindset of a Refugee: Understanding the Human Potential for Current and Former Refugees to Change Our Planet

This book is a product of meaningful life experiences, conversations, and memories. It would be extremely remiss of me to not thank all the incredible people in my life who made this book possible, including:

My loving parents, thank you for everything that I am. It is your courage and perseverance that inspires me. I truly would not be where I am now if it were not for your dedication to keeping my siblings and me afloat even in the most testing times and places. To my siblings, Eric Karenzo Misago, Johani Misago, Joseline Bucumi, Gorette Nimbona, and Damaseni Ntahimpera, thank you for your unwavering love and support since birth and since the beginning of my authorship.

Bruce Sakindi III, thank you for introducing me to Eric Koester and the wonderful community of authors at creator. You were by my side all the way and you pushed to the challenge. Luca Mcleod, it was you who during my sophomore year in college that I would rave to about my first writings and you who encouraged me to dream big and to keep going. John Schauber, as both a friend and God father, you and Curtis have made a huge difference in my life, and I will be forever grateful for the amazing memories that you both helped in creating. Luma Mufleh, you have always believed in me, on and off the soccer field; it was you who pushed me to the limit both mentally and physically to seek my potential as a former refugee, student, and athlete.

A huge thank you to the best camera man, Tin Win. Those long hours recording on Pa Sheikhs special android phone and those great moments of laughing until the morning. You helped significantly in making the books promo-video turn out to be incredible.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to you all. I received generous support from all of you, including, Pa sheikh Ngom, Sirena Register, Nmachi Okere, Hermon Gebrezgiabher, Amponsah Asamoah, Michidael Ceard, Johania Charles, Cindy Luc, Samantha Ternelus, Sandy Dang, Ya Yang, Jim Dimarogonas, Dau Doldol, Isabelle Darling, Ali Kabir, Harmony (Anne-Marie) Ilunga, Jennifer Sanhou, Ojay Lewis, Victor Zamora, Aude-Marie Alexandra Ackebo, Glenn A. Bowen, Hilary Weaver, Muhoza Valence, Aime Obedi, Hycinthe Mekourou, Janelle Forbes, Khamis Jaden, Maria Drattell, Ogbia Afeworkie, Wahid Khaleqdad, Thein Han, Hawraa Hassan, Cecile Mpawenimana, Christina Johnson, Chance Muderhwa, Pierrette Barge, Bineyam Tumbo, Nishimwe Maria-Goreth, Jenny Hess, Susie Gauthier, Martina Muoz, Stefano Cammarota, Paola Lopez-Hernandez, Jacques Musavyimana, Eric Koester, Manirambona Eveline, Andre Swaby, Robin Olson, Brianne Miller, Yamilet Hernandez, Ashley Baquero, Denis Ordonez, Valencia Martinez, Sarah Ruiz, Paola Melendez Reyes, Jenise Smalls, Matthew Cameron, Zhonnel Bailey, Johanssen Grandoit, Jonas Nzambimana, Claudine Niyonsenga, Marvelous Niyomahoro, Delphine Niyonizeye, Claude Niyonkuru, Grier Kellett, Courtney Tucker, Nikki Wiggins, Camilo A. Martinez, Liliana Sanchez, LaQuontae Wright, Karli Zschogner, Devin Davis, Lilia DiBello, Victor Romano, Liz James, Courtney Berrien, Tiffani Knowles, Julia Lutgendorf, Lindsey Walker, Corina Sanchez, Evdoxia Mastrominas, Keeilyn Vicente, and Carleigh Knight. Thank you all for pushing my campaign forward, helping me fund the book, and believing in me.

I am particularly grateful for the assistance provided by New Degree Press and staff, specifically Linda Berardelli, Alaisha Verdeflor, Brian Bies, Jamie T., Amanda Brown, Mackenzie Finklea, Heather Gomez, ChandaElaine Spurlock, Kristy Carter, Nekisha Wilkins, Lyn S., Gina Champagne, Gjorgji Pejkovski, Milos Mandic, Aleksandra Dabic, and Jennifer Candiotti.

My family and I arrived in the United States in 2007 as Burundian refugees after the long and exhausting process of vetting, inquisitions, and experiencing moments of uncertainty. We sometimes questioned whether we would be resettled or not because waiting played a big part in the process. I was born in a refugee camp called Camp Lukole in Tanzania after my family fled violence and genocides in the Great Lakes Region of East Africa, Burundi and Rwanda. Growing up in Camp Lukole was a challenge for my family and the people around us. Paradoxically, the life we led was substantial as it was our reality. It was not out of the norm for my family to be tested every day, non-metaphorically, and it was normal for me to drink dirty water or tolerate tapeworms and jiggers. This was a life I was born into. The philosopher Sren Kierkegaard speculated that, Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. The refugee experience is invariably severe. It is a life that no one should be subjected to. It is a reality that is very flawed and should not be lived in for too long.

From a young age, I made attempts to scrutinize aspects of my own life, my familys, and the lives of people around me from a unique perspective. I am constantly observing the whys behind where we are in life and what impedes us from reaching our fullest potential. I am particularly fascinated with the trajectory of those of us who have had traumatic life experiences, such as being a refugee, for obvious reasons. I began studying and interviewing successful people who had a similar experience to my own. It turns out there are many of them. One of the most exceptional people I spoke with was Sandy Dang. Sandy arrived in the United States as a Vietnamese refugee at the age of thirteen after three years of moving from warehouse to warehouse to warehouse in Hong Kong as they waited to be recognized as a people who want to settle and rebuild their lives.

We have been through a lot, war and refugee camps, so we know that we have to keep having hope, so that we can move forward, said Sandy. Since then, she has kept moving forward in all aspects of her life. Once a refugee and now a world-class leader, Sandy Dang and her accomplishments are the glowing example of what all refugees could aspire to achieve. She is succeeding today because of the lessons she learned as a refugee. In most cases, the refugee experience is prolonged while world leaders debate on why they should not take in refugees. Over the years, the number of refugees around the world fluctuated as violence, persecution, and war erupted and died down. Currently, the world experiences a crisis bigger than ever before as the number of refugees around the world increases.