INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A groundbreaking study first shared in August highlighted the educational progress of Burmese Americans.

A 2023 study from The Burmese American Community Institute showed that the college-going rate for Burmese Americans was at a stable 88%, consistent with pre-pandemic levels. Its 2024 study showed the rate surged to an impressive 94.4%, with 96.9% of students staying in school.

Elaisa Vahnie, executive director of the Indianapolis-based social services organization, told News 8, “Our initial commitment to service was more along with education and the long-term development of individuals, families, and the community. It was to make sure that newcomers and refugees, as quickly as possible, become integrated and self-sufficient economically, but also part of productive society and contributing to the community.”

Nearly 200,000 Burmese refugees have entered the United States, with over 30,000 calling Indiana home, according to a study conducted by researchers at the 2024 Upward College Program.

The Burmese American Community Institute works to foster a culture of empowerment through education. “We saw the COVID-19 pandemic, and we all saw the urgent response that was needed to be able to respond to the urgent needs in the community,” Vahnie said.

Vahnie emphasizes that global catastrophes such as the pandemic and the 2021 coup in Burma have fostered resilience within the Burmese American community. “Those global crises have challenged us to be able to be responsive to welcome and resettle them here. We feel fortunate to be part of that welcoming community by utilizing our unique experience to welcome and resettle families here so they are successful in starting their new lives. We saw they were not ready for college, specifically linguistically. They did not have opportunities back home in Malaysia or any second country where they came to have access to formal education. When they arrive here, they are placed at a grade level based on their age, not their academic background.”

The Burmese American Community Institute has received a remarkable 100% post-secondary education enrollment rate for students who have completed its Upward College Program. Their focus is to continue to support newly arrived non-Americans through programs including English language and civic education, naturalization assistance, and employment to integrate into American society successfully.

Vahnie said, “A study found that non-native English speakers, like refugees and Burmese, take at least four to six years to gain complete English academic skills. Meanwhile, developing English conversation skills may take two to five years. Therefore, we designed this program where students can engage.”

Good news, Indianapolis Colts fans: Anthony Richardson is ready for the 2024 NFL regular season, as he proved Thursday evening.

Richardson, the Colts bright, young quarterback of tomorrow, showed in five possessions of this preseason finale that he is raw. 

And good. 

And terrible.

He showed he is still as inconsistent as he was in college at the University of Florida because he hasn’t played enough football in college or the NFL to be anything else.

In short, he showed everyone a preview of what is to come this season.

Richardson’s Rollercoaster Will Continue

A few weeks ago, in an interview available on the team’s YouTube page, Richardson described his rookie season as a “rollercoaster.”

He ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

He ain’t seen enough blitzes, cloud coverages, or defenses ready for Indy’s RPOs, and pass rushes intended to contain him in the pocket. Richardson is about to face all those. He’s about to face a lot of problems.  

And if he can’t find solutions quickly, there’s no way he can be consistent.

The good news? Consistency is a two-edged sword because Richardson is too gifted to be consistently bad.

So what we’re going to see is something akin to what we saw this game. A stomach-churning rollercoaster ride.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass in the second quarter of the NFL preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Great Opening Drive For Richardson

This preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t count. But it did matter.

Richardson, playing with the Colts’ starting offensive unit, led an impressive opening drive. He completed 7 of 8 passes on that one, including a 9-yard TD to Adonai Mitchell. 

On that drive, we witnessed what Colts fans are hoping to see from their quarterback going forward.

He looked every bit the part of a young Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck.

So, optimism time in Indianapolis.

Then reality set in.

Richardson threw an interception on his next possession. And the interception wasn’t the worst part of the play. 

Aug 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The Reality Of Anthony Richardson

The interception, you see, was plucked out of the air by Bengals safety Jordan Battle and returned for a touchdown. And a Pick Six is worse the worst kind of interception.

As the terrible play was unfolding, an obviously distressed Richardson threw his hands up in the air and cringed and complained in frustration because he and tight end Kylen Granson were clearly not on the same page.

“The interception, that was a tough one,” Richardson said afterward. “Communication right there. Granson saw something and I saw something else. We’ve just got to be on the same page right there.”

The point isn’t that the two players who work together in practice every day weren’t synced up. That happens. The point is the sight of a clearly vexed Richardson was caught by the Amazon streaming service cameras in full focus.

And terrible body language by the quarterback during a pick six is more than bad optics. The last thing any coach wants to see from his quarterback is bad body language amid adversity. 

It didn’t get much better afterward.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) smiles while warming up Saturday, July 27, 2024, during the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield.

A Preview Of 2024 Season

Richardson and the Colts’ starting offense got three more drives in this game, leaking into the second quarter. And they went scoreless in all of those.

Richardson and his receivers were not on the same page. Richardson struggled with both his accuracy and touch, at one point sailing a pass perhaps two feet over the head of a clearly open receiver on a third-down play. His footwork was weird (technical term), too.

And did we mention all this happened against a Bengals defense that rested all of its starters? 

Richardson completed 8 of 14 passes with one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble against guys headed for the bench or waiver wire when the NFL regular season begins.

So what to make of this?

It’s simple. This is what awaits the Colts in 2024 with their young starting quarterback.

As he begins his second professional season, Richardson has thrown all of 84 passes in the league. He played only four games as a rookie because of a concussion and then a season-ending A/C joint in his right (throwing) shoulder.

This year is, for all intents and purposes, Richardson’s first in the NFL. So this is the planting season. The growing season.

But it’s unlikely to be the harvest season.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen could be in for a long season in the AFC South. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

What To Do With Struggles?

Amazon Prime game analyst Kirk Herbstreit asked rhetorically during the broadcast what happens if Richardson struggles all season long? 

If?

When.

Indy’s hope for this season must be that Richardson’s inconsistency is balanced out later in the season with improvement. That hope is tied to coach Shane Steichen’s reputation as a builder of quarterbacks.

Steichen has a lot to work with in Richardson. But it’s a considerable project that isn’t going to be completed for a long while. 

Anyone knowing Richardson’s history and watching him play against a defense of backups Thursday could see that.