This paper considers acclaimed American writer Jack Kerouac's Buddhist practice within his life and writing, and its influence on his unique syncretic vision of America, a country that in his eyes is defined by its variability. Particular emphasis is placed on Kerouac's inspiration from Japanese monk D.T Suzuki's theories of Zen Buddhism, and how these theories allow Kerouac to develop a more profound connection to the American wilderness, and the country in its entirety.

With the assistance of my thesis committee, I created a podcast to fulfill my objective of interviewing survivors of sexual abuse/grooming practices and their support systems. I utilized this method to have in-depth discussions and provide people with a safe space to share their experiences. By doing so, we were able to reflect on the areas in which professionals can improve on recognizing signs of abuse in their communities. My goal was to show how training teachers to recognize signs of trauma is essential for effectively assisting the population we serve. Ultimately, this came down to what instruction was taught in the Teachers College. Curricula centered on properly managing trauma in the classroom, including sexual abuse, should be required for courses in the upper and lower division degree program for Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.