From Refugee to Doctor

After enduring bombing in the Liberian war, the death of her favorite uncle, typhoid fever, and an unhealthy dynamic with her mother, Dasherline describes how she successfully overcame these hurdles, enabling her to help others as a psychologist. She contrasts the loving and nurturing relationship with her maternal grandmother, which provided a solid foundation for healing and wholeness, with the broken bond with her mother.

After immigrating to the United States, Dasherline struggled to adapt to a new culture while studying for her doctoral degree and raising her children. As a Black African woman new to American culture, she explores the impact of George Floyd’s death and other instances of racism and microaggression as she counsels her sons on safe behavior. She credits her faith in God as the source of healing in her relationships with her mother and her husband. She hopes through this story that readers will be inspired to develop their own resilience and faith to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.