Kavya currently attends Johns Hopkins University where she is beginning her journey to become a psychiatrist. She also conducts research under Dr. Arthur Samuel in the Stony Brook University Department of Psychology on a project entitled, “Hearing Sounds and the Illusion of Seeing Longer Lasting Shapes”.
In addition to Hope Xchange, her other volunteer activities have included visiting nursing home patients, serving hot food to the homeless in Manhattan, and teaching online math classes to elementary school children for the North South Foundation.
Kavya has acted in several dramas and participated in over 30 musicals to promote human values as a member of the Flushing Sai Center. She has also performed in over 50 classical Indian dance performances including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Shanti foundation and holds a Black Belt in Taekwondo.
Kavya volunteers because...
I'm only at the beginning of my journey to pursue psychiatry, but just by opening my eyes a little wider, I've already begun to realize how many teenagers struggle with mental illnesses. Developing relationships with those who are hurting has furthered my desire to be a psychiatrist as I realize that making someone smile, if only for a while, brings irreplaceable happiness to me.
I wanted to find other ways to help those with mental illnesses and am so glad that I found Hope Xchange. The dedication and passion with which the members of Hope Xchange do their work is inspiring and one of the many reasons I am honored to volunteer. I hope that I can help those who are suffering with mental illnesses even a fraction of the amount that their strength inspires me.