Emogene Waldrop, a senior at Black Hills State University, has always loved to travel.
In June 2025, Waldrop, an exercise science major, was able to combine her passion
for travel and the knowledge she had learned in her classes through an internship
in Bangkok, Thailand.
During her internship shadowing a physiotherapist, a typical day for Waldrop entailed observing therapy sessions, recording notes, and interacting with clients. She also gained valuable hands-on experience from the very beginning; the first weekend she was in Thailand, Waldrop attended a cupping therapy and massage training from the physiotherapist she interned with. “Afterwards, he gifted me a cupping set, and periodically, I would get to do cupping for clients,” said Waldrop.
Cupping therapy is a technique that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. “The suction helps promote blood flow to the area. It’s used to relieve muscle tension, inflammation, and pain,” Waldrop explained.
This practical experience was especially valuable for Waldrop. She said interning in Thailand provided her with many opportunities to work directly with patients. "That is one of the reasons I am so grateful that I did my internship abroad.”
While in Thailand, Waldrop lived with a local host family outside of Bangkok. “My host was so friendly. She would make me breakfast and coffee every morning, and, on a day I had off, she also took me to some tourist attractions,” Waldrop said. “I feel so grateful to have lasting connections like my host. My absolute favorite part of my internship is the people that I met. It’s really reassuring when you meet people that are just genuinely kind.”
Interning in Thailand also broadened Waldrop’s perspective on her future career as an aspiring physical therapist. “I feel like it’s expanded the possibilities of what I could do,” she said. “It provided me with another perspective of what it would be like to own a physical therapy clinic and the kinds of clients I could reach.
Waldrop was a recipient of the highly competitive Gilman Scholarship. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Scholarship gives undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in international education and cultural exchange.
“I feel like interning abroad is such an eye-opening and life-changing experience, and you can’t replicate anything like it here,” Waldrop added.