Like many Native people, Julianna grew up in the shadow of a system which forcibly relocated Native children to boarding schools, a system that persisted well into the 20th century. Abuse and neglect ran rampant in these schools, and Native culture was harshly suppressed. Julianna has many stories to share about the experiences of her own family members at a particular boarding school in South Dakota. “We are all living with the generational trauma that was passed down from our relatives who attended the mission school,” Julianna says. Her grandparents and great-grandparents were beaten, starved, and locked in cellars and attics. Like all Lakota students, they were also forbidden to speak their language. Later in life, lingering stress from their boarding school ordeals created other problems for Julianna’s older relatives, including alcohol dependence and mental-health issues.
At an early age, Julianna became determined to address these traumas in her family and her community. With an eye toward a career in counseling, she enrolled at the University of South Dakota to study social work. She excelled in her studies, becoming a regular fixture on the dean’s list while also serving as an officer in science-oriented student organizations such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Still, her success did not always come easily. She faced her share of adversity and lack of motivation, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the university into remote learning. Julianna found the transition challenging, but she adapted with the help of the Student Success Services team at the American Indian College Fund (College Fund). “The support I received from the College Fund Student Success program advisors was encouraging and reassuring. The program advisors have helped me stay on the path to graduation and plan academic goals, as well as develop lifelong success habits and personal goals for myself beyond college life.”
This past spring, Julianna graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in social work, specializing in child welfare and public health. Her career plans will take her back to the Rosebud Indian Reservation for a career in child and family services. In her work with young people, Julianna intends to build on the strengths that she has already observed in them: “I’ve seen the youth on the reservation endure hardships and obstacles and barriers, but they also have a lot of resilience. I always knew that I wanted to go back to my community and serve the youth on my reservation.”
Just as she has been inspired by the trauma of older family members, Julianna is kept grounded by her younger relatives. “What makes my heart happy is my family,” she says. “This includes my younger siblings. I want to be a role model for my younger siblings, others on the Rosebud Reservation, and for future generations. I’m the oldest of my three siblings, so I want to set the bar high. I want to see the youth on the Rosebud Reservation succeed, as well. I can show the youth that it doesn’t matter where they come from, they too can become college graduates.” As a Student Ambassador for the College Fund, Julianna will have opportunities to share that message with aspiring Native scholars across the country.
In Lakota—she aspires to be a fluent speaker, as her grandparents were never allowed to be—Julianna extends her gratitude to the supporters of the College Fund who helped her achieve her goals. “Han, mitákuyepi. Anpétu wašté. Iyúha čhantéwašteya napéčhiyûzapi. Julianna Benge emáčiyapi kšto. Rosebud Sioux Tribe ná Sičangu Lákota Oyáte hemáčha. Hello, relatives. Good day. I greet you with a good heart and handshake. My name is Julianna Benge. I am Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Pilamayaye (Thank you) for your support of providing scholarships for Indigenous students. I am extremely grateful, and I appreciate your assistance.”