Vaidehi, a junior at Lehman College in New York, cannot wait to start her month long Speech Therapy Quest and independent research study in Ecuador. She has lived all over the world from India to L.A. to New York, but this will be her first time in South America!
United Planet: How did you hear about United Planet?
Vaidehi: “I didn’t study abroad in college, but had always wanted to. I major in Speech Pathology, and wanted to do a project that would allow me to pursue my interest abroad. Therefore, I found United Planet by searching for organizations that had speech therapy volunteer opportunities.”
UP: What originally motivated you to pursue Speech Pathology?
V: “My mom is a physical therapist, and I have seen how amazing it is to have the ability to help and work with people. I also decided to become a speech therapist because growing up I stuttered a lot. Therapy not only improved my speech, but my confidence.”
UP: What are you most looking forward to?
V: “I am most looking forward to working in the clinic, and gaining hands-on experience. I am excited to learn from the speech therapists at the clinic and improve my Spanish. I will also be doing an independent research study which compares the access, availability and quality of treatment between Ecuador and countries such as India and the United States. It will be a cross-cultural comparison between different cultures and their socioeconomic levels.
UP: What are you most nervous about?
V: “I’m most nervous about getting sick.”
UP: If you could have one superhero power what would it be?
V: “To fly!”
Interested in planning your own Quest to Ecuador? Start here.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
