John Jay College deeply values the power of data. Research is an integral part of our institutional mission, and as a society, we rely on data to help guide our perspectives and policies. It’s this dedication to research that underpins our excitement about the 2021 Research & Creativity Expo, April 28 – May 7. At this annual event—which will be presented through a variety of online platforms due to the pandemic—we have the opportunity to see some of the research projects that our students have been working on for a semester, or even a full academic year, with the collaboration and guidance of our dedicated faculty. The students’ research projects cover a wide range of disciplines and methodologies, and they skillfully examine questions and concerns that directly impact our communities. In short: Our Research & Creativity Expo is a celebration of John Jay’s thriving research community.

After reading different works of literature and viewing films that underscore the complex relationship siblings can have, Alishba Ehmed ’23 decided to research the influence a parent’s death can have on sibling interactions. “My project specifically focuses on how the loss of one or both parents can impact the relationship between adult-siblings,” Ehmed explains. “Through my research, I found aspects that showed a decline in communication between siblings that can stem from individual responsibilities with their separate families, or pre-existing conflicts that continue to arise later in life.” We connected with Ehmed to learn more about her research process and what she learned from it.

What was the research process like? What was your research methodology and final conclusion?
For my research, I relied on John Jay’s library databases to collect peer-reviewed articles. After spending months diving into the articles, my final conclusion was that the chances of siblings growing apart after the death of a parent are extremely high, especially when there are pre-existing issues prior to the death. However, rebuilding the diminishing relationship between adult siblings is possible through an improvement in communication.

Was there a special professor that helped you in your research? How did they guide you and in what ways were they particularly helpful as you progressed in your research?
My English professor, Christen Madrazo, helped me a lot with my research. Out of my three research ideas, she recommended this one. Along the way, Professor Madrazo helped ensure that I was on track by looking over the pattern my research revealed. She provided a template on how a research paper should be formatted, and she set up a workshop with the Writing Center. As I progressed, she went through my research in detail, recommending corrections and pointing out sections that needed more work. Overall, Professor Madrazo’s support had a profound influence on how my research took shape. I’m very thankful for her assistance.

What were the most challenging aspects of conducting this research? What were the most rewarding aspects?
The most challenging aspect of conducting this research was finding at least five peer-reviewed articles that discussed my research topic specifically, and then deducing a pattern using all those sources. At first, when I had been trying to find a pattern among all the articles, it was difficult to see how they related to each other. I eventually realized that they all discussed the importance of maintaining communication between adult siblings following their parent’s death. Without working toward the preservation of this communication, adult siblings would not have the means of maintaining their relationships with each other.

The most rewarding aspect of conducting this research was the sense of accomplishment I had after putting it all together, and realizing that I can apply it to my own life. Taking an issue from works of fiction and turning it into a research project with peer-reviewed articles was not something I thought I could do, but I was very proud that I had done just that. The research also helped me come to terms with how my relationships with my own siblings could change as we age.

As a college focused on justice, how does your research help move the needle forward on justice issues? How do you hope your research is used?
I hope that it can be used in cases where siblings need to address conflicts regarding their inheritance and funeral arrangement costs. I also hope that my research helps siblings struggling with separation anxiety following the death of a parent, helping them decern whether they wish to reach out to their siblings to maintain a bond. My research concludes that sibling relationships can often dissolve if a lack of communication isn’t addressed, and adult siblings can come to terms with the loss in their family, and heal any rifts with their siblings, if they work on communication.

In five years, what do you hope you’ll be doing?
In five years, I hope to be attending law school and working toward becoming a lawyer. I want to be able to assist people facing injustices. There are so many issues that need to be brought into the light and many people who need their voices heard. I want to be able to provide these individuals a means of getting their voices heard in some way. Additionally, I would like to have a family and be at a point in my life where I’m happy with where my life is going.

Finish this sentence: Because of John Jay...
Because of John Jay, I’ve been provided with opportunities I never imagined I would be offered. Just by putting work into my English class, I was able to join the school’s Life Out Loud Podcast for a semester and learn about the teamwork that goes into running a podcast. By working on the podcast, I’ve been able to hear about problems that students from John Jay have experienced, and how these problems connect to deeper social issues. John Jay teaches students more about the world around them and how important it is to push against the inequalities that are so prevalent in today’s society.

I haven’t gotten the chance to experience John Jay in person since this academic year has been conducted online. Given the opportunities and lessons I have seen solely through a computer screen, I’m excited to see what John Jay will be able to teach me about the world and myself once we return to our campus.