Shraddha Adhikari didn’t have to go far to find the inspiration to help the people in her community. She saw her grandmother do it every day as a health care worker. Adhikari did, however, have to go a little farther to find the education she wanted—half a world, in fact.

Hailing from Neureni Hetauda, Nepal, Adhikari is a student in Viterbo University’s Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program.

“American degrees are recognized everywhere, and mental health is not a prioritized field in my country,” she said. “As someone who connects easily with other people, the profession is a natural fit for me, and the desire to help others genuinely comes from my heart.”

From the friendly people to the supportive faculty and classmates and small class sizes, Adhikari couldn’t be happier with her choice to attend Viterbo.

“I just love it here,” she said.

Adhikari has especially enjoyed her internships at the Salvation Army and Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers, where she is able to put theory and techniques into practice with

a diverse group of people. She was very impressed by the fact that faculty member and internship supervisor Jessie Latten has provided free services to people at the Salvation Army for several years. Another faculty member, Deb Murray, regularly gave her a ride to Scenic Bluffs in Cashton and back.

A lover of music, Adhikari enjoys playing the ukulele, singing, dancing, and exploring nature in her spare time.

After graduating in December, Adhikari will apply for counseling jobs and work toward the 3,000 hours of supervised practice needed for licensure in the U.S. On a five-year visa, she would like to build a social media presence for young people in Nepal while working in America.

“Eventually I would like to travel back and forth between the two countries and collaborate with doctors and other professionals with the ultimate goal of building a clinic in Neureni Hetauda,” she said.