Sharda’s amazing journey to Akron Children’s

Sharda helps families check in for appointments and offers directions.

The Akron Children’s campus has grown over the years, and it can be intimidating for new patients and their families. Thankfully, patient service representatives (PSRs) like Sharda Rai can help families check in for appointments and find their way around the campus. If anyone knows what it’s like to be in unfamiliar territory, it’s Sharda.

Her journey

Sharda and her family – which includes her parents and older brother – are from Nepal. This is a country in South Asia, located between China and India. Government conflicts led to Sharda and her family living at refugee camps. “It was a hard time for us,” she shared. “My grandparents were Nepali settlers in the nearby country of Bhutan, and my parents were born in Bhutan. They were chased from Bhutan to Nepal because they only spoke Nepali and followed Nepali culture and traditions. But the Nepali leaders didn’t consider us to be Nepali, even though my brother and I were born there, so they put us in refugee camps.”

Sharda with rangoli art to welcome the goddess Laxmi during the Nepali Festival of Lights.

Sharda’s parents wanted to provide better lives and more educational opportunities for their children, so they came to America when Sharda was 11. They settled in the North Hill area of Akron, a diverse neighborhood known as the “international district.” Many Nepali families like Sharda’s settled there after fleeing conflict-ridden nations.

“My native tongue is Nepali. I also speak Hindi and a bit of Spanish,” she said. “However, I didn’t know English when we moved to America.”

Making connections

By the time she got to high school at Akron North, Sharda had quickly learned English. As a junior, she joined the Akron North Viking Scholar Program. “You can join as a sophomore or a junior,” she said. “You can get everything from career advice and networking opportunities to help with writing a résumé and applying for college scholarships.”

Sharda gets ready to perform a traditional Nepali dance called maruni.

Upon joining the Viking Scholar Program, Sharda met Dr. Thomas Jefferson. She affectionately calls him “Dr. T.J.” He’s the education program liaison for the Akron Children’s Unity and Engagement Department. He works closely with Akron Public Schools on educational and career development programs offered in conjunction with Akron Children’s. “I interviewed with Dr. T.J. and got a summer internship at Akron Children’s,” Sharda said. “I worked in Language Access, shadowing a Nepali interpreter, where I heard and learned Nepali words I did not know. Medical translating versus everyday Nepali spoken at home is so different!”

To complete the internship, Sharda had to create and deliver a presentation aimed at researching a problem. “I chose drinking and driving as my topic,” she shared. “People don’t take it as seriously as they should; even 1 drink can impair you. Drinking and driving isn’t worth the risk – to yourself or others.”

Becoming an employee

Sharda felt so comfortable as an Akron Children’s intern that she returned as an employee. She has been a float PSR for 2 years, working in the Considine Professional Building, main hospital building and the Celeste Myers Dental Clinic. “I love it at Akron Children’s,” she said. “We have a diverse culture and make everyone feel welcome.”

Sharda and her mom enjoy the Christmas decorations during a trip to Nashville.

Sharda checks patients in for appointments, offers directions and enjoys endless smiles. “I love seeing kids’ smiling faces,” she said, “and watching them run around the waiting areas.”

 Currently studying business and human resources (HR) at The University of Akron, Sharda is working toward a career in health care or HR. Her favorite classes include business, math, marketing, HR and management. “I only work 24 hours a week during the school year, so I can focus on my studies,” she said. “But I work full time in the summers.”

Sharda’s family has grown since coming to America. Her brother is now married with 3 daughters, so she loves spending time with her nieces. She also loves to learn, help others and enjoy American culture. With one exception. “American food is too greasy,” she said, while scrunching her face. “I prefer my vegetarian Nepali diet.”

Sharda poses for a photo at the Cedar Point amusement park.

‘A full-circle moment’

Sharda is a shining example of the power of collaboration between Akron Children’s and Akron Public Schools. “It’s a full-circle moment when a student like Sharda can start as a summer intern, graduate from high school and then become an Akron Children’s employee,” Dr. Jefferson said. “Seeing the impact on students and the difference these programs make – it’s very rewarding.”

Dr. Jefferson thinks the world of Sharda, and she feels the same way about him. “I’ve met a lot of great people at Akron Children’s, but Dr. T.J. is the best,” she said. “When I was in high school, he helped me network and make connections. Once I graduated from Akron North, he told me I’d always be part of the Viking Scholar Program. Joining that program changed my life – and it feels good to be part of something bigger.”