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Pradhan is a biology major with a minor in computer science.

Hometown: Somerville, MA

Fulbright Location: Champasak Technical Vocational College, Pasak, Laos

"I chose to teach at a vocational school because I'm passionate about making education accessible for driven young people of all backgrounds. By empowering students with English communication skills, I hope to provide them tools to open doors in their future careers. Outside the classroom, I look forward to deepening my Buddhist practice through visits to local temples. Living in a smaller Lao city for a year, I'll have the chance to appreciate the region's rich history and traditions. Having already celebrated Lao New Year with the Southeast Asian community in Philadelphia, I'm even more excited to fully immerse myself in Lao culture. I can't wait to engage with the local community through cultural events, service projects, and reciprocal learning while making a positive impact as a Fulbright ambassador."

Straubel is a Literatures in English major with minors in data science and psychology

Hometown: Darien, Conn.

Fulbright Location: South Korea

"What I am looking forward to most is the fact that I will get to experience Korea, Korean culture, and the Korean language from the perspective of both a teacher and a student. While I'm teaching my students English and about American culture, they'll be teaching me about their lives and the pieces of their country that mean the most to them. I also appreciate that first-year ETAs in South Korea are not placed in Seoul, the country’s capital, because I will learn more about other areas of the country, along with their local history and traditions. Plus, I will be able to engage with my host community deeply, further develop my Korean language skills, and, ideally, learn how to cook some Korean dishes that I can share with my family once I return home."