Evanka Annyapu, NSLI-Y Hindi alum
As with many alumni, studying abroad in India was an opportunity for Evanka to explore different career paths and expand her global perspective. Initially, Evanka was interested in several languages but chose Hindi due to a personal connection. “I grew up hearing my mom speak fluent Hindi with friends,” she shares. “While I grew up speaking Telugu, which is a South Indian language… I felt as though being able to read, write, and understand a language that almost everyone else in India spoke meant I could engage with more of my culture.” NSLI-Y allowed Evanka to immerse herself in the language, connect with her community, and build skills that would benefit her beyond language proficiency.
One of the most impactful aspects of Evanka’s NSLI-Y experience was the opportunity to volunteer in the local community. When she was not in school or spending time with her host family, she volunteered at orphanages, retirement homes, or elementary schools. Outside of academics and volunteering, Evanka also found time to connect with both the local community and her NSLI-Y cohort through extracurricular activities. She took Bollywood and Bhangra dance classes, bonding with peers from across the U.S, who exposed her to diverse backgrounds and perspectives. These experiences strengthened her non-linguistic skills – such as cultural awareness, adaptability, collaboration, and problem solving – which prove invaluable in both her academic and professional career.
After returning home, Evanka pursued a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing, and a minor in Religious Studies, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently in her third year of medical school, she hopes to specialize in pediatric hospital medicine or critical care. When asked about the impact of NSLI-Y on her career path, Evanka credits the program for broadening her worldview and instilling in her the confidence to pursue a diverse range of interests.
“Once you start to see a world bigger than the four walls that high school puts you in, you realize that your future can be anything you make of it. My college experience became a blend of everything I was passionate about – language, culture, and human experiences. As someone that will practice in the healthcare field, I am excited to listen to individuals and hear the stories that engage, excite, educate, and most of all, contribute to a larger dialogue.”
As a medical student, Evanka continues to work on projects that intersect language, culture, and healthcare. She helped implement a refugee health curriculum for medical students, worked as a mentor to refugee families, was the Interpretation Initiative Chair for the student-run clinic for uninsured individuals, and contributed to developing an in-person Spanish interpretation program. Through all her experiences, Evanka became interested in the role of innovative storytelling in the medical community. She shares, “I now seek to understand how stories are told and shared with communities whether in the lens of critically-ill patients, hospital-care settings, or refugee and immigrant families.”
For other NSLI-Y alumni interested in pursuing careers in STEM, Evanka has one key piece of advice: “Find something in the humanities that you love and integrate it into your career. The arts and humanities make you think more broadly about situations and problems. An interdisciplinary approach allows you to communicate effectively, articulate complex ideas, and cultivate empathy.” She also recommends finding a mentor in the field you are interested in or connecting with a peer who is a year or two ahead of you – someone who can offer advice, encouragement, and support.