Beyond Words
UGA student works to understand communication across communities.
What was a challenge in early childhood for Gabriela Sanchez has become a lifelong passion.
Growing up, the UGA senior had trouble talking and being understood. Luckily, she found the help she needed and is ready to make it come full circle.
“I had speech therapy when I was really young, so I know how important it is,” says Sanchez, who studies American Sign Language and Spanish. “Now, it’s fascinating learning about language and teaching it because it’s something I feel that we take for granted. We do it every day. It seems subconscious, but language is much more than just words. It’s understanding people themselves.”
It’s not easy to overcome those barriers, Sanchez says. Now, drawing on her studies and an upcoming degree in communication sciences and disorders, she can help those who feel like the challenges are insurmountable.
Language as a Foundation
Before she arrived in Athens, Sanchez knew how rewarding it could be when a new language clicks. She wanted others to experience that joy as well and, while still attending Alcovy High School in Covington, she created Amigos Unidos, a free tutoring service for English as a Second Language students.
Running this venture with her sister made Sanchez feel that connection again when she arrived at UGA. Becoming a bilingual speech pathologist was the perfect fit. Across her college career, she’s worked hard to become fluent in both Spanish and ASL. But as she understands firsthand, it’s not just about learning the translation, but translating it to others.
“John Proctor is the Villain.”
Sometimes that’s literal, such as Sanchez’s experience serving as an ASL interpreter for UGA Theatre productions. But the work also requires her to be attuned to people’s unique perspectives and cultural worldviews in order to make translations authentic.
“You may not always have the same background as somebody you want to help. That’s true of any field you want to go into, but especially in speech, it’s important to know that person’s culture when you are working with them to build that trust,” she says.
Sanchez got to shadow speech therapists during an internship in Argentina in 2024, where she observed how they built that trust with the children they helped.
“Just seeing the same clients every single week, you get to build a connection with them and their family too. It made me really excited to one day conduct my own speech therapy sessions in Spanish,” she says.
With two additional international, language-focused trips—for Spanish in Sevilla, Spain, and ASL in Paris—she learned that everyone deserves to experience the world fully and easily. And that begins with the mutual understanding of language.
Sanchez says she owes her fluency in Spanish and ASL to three international experiences: Argentina, Spain, and France.
Finding the Path in Pathology
Whether it’s studying abroad or finding the perfect internship, Sanchez believes everyone should have the opportunity to find their passion.
That’s why she’s starting those conversations with students in U-Lead Athens, an organization that helps high schoolers prepare for a possible path to higher education.
“There’s an importance in understanding the world around you, not just in your career, but in everyday life.”
Gabriela Sanchez
Sanchez also continues to support students once they arrive at UGA through her work at the UGA Career Center. By coordinating with potential employers and scheduling students and alumni for resume help, career fairs, and headshots, she’s part of a consistent effort that gets Bulldogs where they want to be.
“I have spent over half of my college experience doing this, and I am so grateful for this community. Everyone at the Career Center is so supportive and really wants to see me and the other students succeed,” Sanchez says.
The next step in her own success? Beginning a master’s program in speech language pathology. Through this, she will continue to pursue her own goal of becoming a bilingual speech pathologist.
Even though she’s staying in Georgia, Sanchez says there’s always a chance to go beyond your own bubble.
“Having that understanding and building humility is just so essential to being an empathetic human being. There’s an importance in understanding the world around you, not just in your career, but in everyday life.”