As an international student, Sakshi is happy to be part of a college community that not only supports her learning. but also her life outside the classroom. She credits Professor Jeanine Skorinko as someone who has been pivotal to her academic career. “She has not only guided me and introduced me to the countless opportunities in the field of psychology, but also has instilled in me the importance of becoming a well-rounded adult,” Sakshi says. “She has always been there when I have missed home or felt like I wasn't on the right track with my academics. She has encouraged me to read and pursue various avenues that will strengthen my professional life and help me build a career of my dreams in the future.”

She is proud of her time as an intern with the City of Worcester’s Central Community Health Partnership that worked on the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). “I worked on community interviews relating to mental and physical health. We looked at disparities and differences in various demographics, including age and race, to determine what area in healthcare should get funding,” Sakshi says. “This data was analyzed to determine the parameters for the funding in these areas. It was very insightful to learn and talk with different groups of people in the real world about what they think about healthcare and how they approach it in everyday life. It was, overall, a great learning experience.” 

WPI’s “community on the hill,” as she calls it, is her favorite thing about her student life. “I love students’ and faculty members’ constant willingness to learn about and immerse themselves in other cultures. I saw so many people enjoying the Pan-Asian festival on campus and it made me so happy that people are willing to learn about Asian cultures!” Sakshi says. “Being 9,000 miles away from home is not easy without a community that supports you. All my professors have been understanding of that whenever I have been homesick. My friends have been a terrific support system through this big change. Being at WPI has been the best decision I could have ever made.”

Project-based learning has been an effective tool for Sakshi’s learning. “As a visual learner, I often benefit from having a visual or a project aid while I am learning. WPI's project-based curriculum has helped me better understand concepts and their applications in the real world," she says. "More specifically, it gave me the confidence to undertake other projects in my free time and made my learning enjoyable.” 

For those considering studying at WPI, she advises. “It might seem hard at first, but the projects and the hard work will pay off, I promise! You just have to find the right balance between academics, extracurriculars, and your social life. You shouldn't sacrifice one for another. Everything will work itself out.”

After graduation, Sakshi plans to work for a period of time and then go on to get her master’s in neuroscience and, eventually, her PhD.