Meet Our Buddies

Maria Santos, senior at Florida International University, has been volunteering with StudentsCare for just 6 months now. She supports the chapter through her role as attendance tracker, ensuring all volunteers show up for their visits at their scheduled times, and that visits and hours are accurately recorded.

Maria says, “Listening to the seniors’ feedback made me realize what big of an impact we are making in their lives.”

Khyati Dani, sophomore at St. Louis University, has been a part of her StudentsCare chapter since Fall 2020 when she started at SLU. She joined StudentsCare in an effort to be part of something larger than herself. Khyati says the mission really spoke to her and she knew that joining would allow her to make an impact and branch out within the St. Louis community. 

Khyati believes volunteering allows folks to “have an impact on individuals other than ourselves” and is “critical to fostering relationships within the community that we live and go to school in.”

Analise Lewis, sophomore at University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL, began her StudentsCare journey earlier this year. She joined StudentsCare to better understand the patient care process and gain a different perspective on the hospital experience. 

She believes that volunteering is so important because of that opportunity and feels it’s a means of connection to the "important, intangible aspects of humanity: generosity, kindness, and respect."

Alex Chen, junior Biochemistry major at University of Pennsylvania, has been volunteering with StudentsCare since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. When Alex’s previous hospital volunteer position stopped to do COVID-19, he was excited to find StudentsCare, largely because of the Senior Buddy Program and its ability to cater to a virtual environment. He started off supporting Penn’s Hospital Buddy Program by making worksheets that were given to children at partnering hospitals, as they reminded him of one of his favorite childhood activities: brain teasers. Alex says, "I was hopeful children at the hospitals would enjoy the little brain workout as much as I did."

Harini Venkobarao, sophomore at University of Texas Austin, has been volunteering with StudentsCare for 6 months now. Looking for something to do “just for fun,” Harini was introduced to StudentsCare and has been part of our Senior Buddy Program ever since. Each week, Harini connects with her buddy Linda over the phone. A biology and plan II major and aspiring doctor, Harini hopes to help as many people as she can through medicine. 

She hopes to be "as resilient and strong" as the buddies she’s encountered.

Ashley Mendoza, junior at University of Miami, has been part of StudentsCare for just a year and two months. Since she started volunteering during the pandemic, Ashley had the unique opportunity to begin as a virtual buddy. With in-person visits postponed, she would plan to talk on the phone with an isolated senior as part of StudentsCare’s new Senior Buddy Program. While this presented itself as a challenge for many, Ashley rose to the occasion and surprised even herself with the relationship she and her buddy, Juan, were able to build.

She’s learned “there is so much more than meets the eye,” and because of that strives to treat others with kindness, love, and care.

Due to hospitalization and illness, our pediatric buddies often miss out on many childhood experiences. Birthday parties, clowns, and magic tricks are lost in the many procedures and hardships our buddies have to endure. Varun Krishnan, a magician and recent alumni from the University of Miami, has been a part of the StudentsCare family for the past three years and has brightened up his buddies’ lives with magic– literally!

“It wouldn’t be possible without the laughs, giggles, and support I’ve received from all the kids.” Varun says the best part of StudentsCare is how “the buddies have a way of lighting up your day and bringing out the best in you.” 

The pandemic changed life as we know it for everyone around the world, but especially our pediatric patients. With in-person volunteering being suspended to protect our buddies, we racked our brains on how to offer emotional and mental support without being physically present. Beatrice Torres found a way to adapt to the change by making virtual storytelling and arts and crafts videos.

As an aspiring physician, Beatrice feels that StudentsCare has helped her understand the true essence of empathy and compassion, better enabling her to enter the medical field. “It is truly an honor to build trust and friendship with kids who are amidst one of their biggest storms. Instead of being angered, they continue smiling and spreading love and kindness,” Beatrice says.