40 Under 40: Aashika Suseendran ’15

My time at Arcadia was my window to the world. From inviting me to study abroad in Stirling, Scotland during my first year to inspiring me to return to the United Kingdom to study for psychology at the University of Cambridge during my third year, Arcadia taught me to seek global citizenship. I feel that the most valuable lessons I learned while at Arcadia were in autonomy and cultural competence.

My most cherished memory at Arcadia was on March 28, 2015, the day of Honors Convocation during my senior year. I felt the emotional weight of the day because I wanted to do justice to the incredible group of people standing before me. As Convocation speaker, I was addressing faculty, parents, and students who had become family to me. Thankfully, they were very gracious, and the day was memorable.

In five years, I envision a life revolving around service, family, travel, music, professional development, and self-unfoldment. After two years of clinical practice in a pediatric setting post-graduation, I plan to serve one year at Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital, a facility where I conducted an independent service project in 2016. I seek to work with a team of professionals and bring pro-bono physical therapy services to patients in developing countries of the world, such as India, so that people who cannot afford physical therapy can benefit from an excellent evidence-based standard of care.