I don’t have an “ah-ha!” moment or a specific experience that pinpoints what piqued my interest in speech-language pathology. After years of working successfully in the field of insurance and healthcare management consulting, I could not deny my desire to be part of a discipline more directly involved in counseling or patient care. That aim set me on a journey to determine how I could best serve in this capacity and ultimately led me to a decision to change careers. I researched, I interviewed people in a variety of fields, and I examined my own values and motivations. Consequently, it is with confidence and enthusiasm I can say speech-language pathology is a dynamic field in which I have found a way to pursue my passion for helping others while also …show more content…
Although I had a clear partiality for social sciences, I lacked focus and eventually succumbed to the well-intentioned advice that I should press ahead with a business major that would teach me pragmatic corporate skills and lead to a field with strong job potential. As a result, I committed to the most practical and sensible degree program available to me: Risk Management & Insurance. In the months immediately following my graduation from the program, my ability to rapidly accumulate and apply knowledge was challenged and sharpened. An unprecedented four hurricanes struck Florida that summer, and the insurance company where I worked was vastly understaffed for the volume of claims and customer service work that resulted from the extraordinary weather. The experience taught me how to adapt in high-pressure situations as well as the value of actively listening to customers who are experiencing loss and feeling frightened and
My mother has been able to introduce me to some of the Speech-Language Pathologists she has worked with. They have kindly made themselves available to describe exactly what they do on a typical work day. I have been able to shadow them and observe how their interactions can change their patients’ future. After hearing their stories, I immediately became enamored by the entire field. I want to become a Speech-Language Pathologist because I know I have the strong will, collaborative nature, patience and tools to make me an incredible asset to this profession.
Within my year and half of clinician experience, I constructed a few future goals that I would like to achieve while in graduate school. One goal is to continue growing my knowledge with working with children with language impairments. This goal is one reason that drew me towards The University of North Texas. With the hands on experience from the preschool for children with language impairments, I could work towards my completion of this goal. Another goal of mine is to gain more experience with working with adults. My clinical experience was centered on children; therefore I would like to become better rounded as a clinician by getting the opportunity to work with adults who may have diverse impairments. Lastly, I would enjoy learning new therapy techniques and how to ultimately become the best Speech-Language Pathologist that I can
My intensive Speech Language Pathology coursework at California State University- Fresno has provided me with the skills to implement treatment plans, assist during speech and language assessments, and keep formal documentation of client’s progress in speech therapy. These are the necessary skills required to be an effective Speech Language Pathology Assistant and will make me as asset to have in the school speech setting.
Language is beautiful and wondrous phenomenon. Not only is it a crucial component in everyday communication, but it also accentuates the culture of those that speak it. As a student pursuing a career in speech-language pathology, the aspects of communication, such as language, are the pillars of my future profession and will be deeply embedded into my daily life. There are many reasons I have chosen this path, but my childhood friend, Jasmine, can be accredited with my finishing decision to become a speech-language pathologist. When I was in elementary school, Jasmine was one of my closest friends, but I did not always get to play with her at recess because she frequently had to see an audiologist, or go to speech therapy. Jasmine had a congenital
When I first considered becoming a speech-language pathologist I was overwhelmed with all the material and knowledge I had to absorb. It is a compelling subject that embraces fascinating procedures and information regarding to speech, hearing, and language. The more information I uncovered in my undergraduate courses the more content I felt with myself for choosing the perfect career path for me. The purpose for my decision to continue my education into your speech-language pathology graduate program is simply because I have the experience and criteria to become an honorable speech-language pathologist.
The opportunity to observe the work overview of a Speech Pathologist, has tremendously solidified my interest in this field. At the Diana Rogovin Speech Center at Brooklyn College, I observed clients of various ages with different speech language disorders including articulation, language, voice, fluency and accent modification. Observing clinicians at the speech center gave me the opportunity to learn how important client-clinician interaction is for the session and how essential it is to build a good relationship with the client. Although I learned the
Personal Statement My aspiration to become a speech pathologist is the culmination of a life-long interest in science and the human voice. As a sophomore in college I became serious about acting and musical theater and was recruited into the state reparatory acting program at Cal State Fullerton. At Cal State, I continued singing and playing lead parts in productions. I found a particular affinity for manipulating my voice for theatrical dialects, and developing optimal vocal support and projection on stage.
The career of speech pathology offers many opportunities in a variety of different settings. For those who are willing to tackle the challenge of advanced education and have a passion for working with others, speech pathology could be a great career choice. Through my individual research and interaction with other Speech Pathologists,
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) should aim to provide both efficient and effective clinical services. Thus, SLPs need an array of skills to succeed in the field. SLPs must have great interpersonal skills, as they work with a range of individuals from clients, clients’ family, and other healthcare professionals. Adequate oral and written communication skills, as well as listening skills are essential, so that others can understand them whether it be through written sentences or paragraphs or through verbal discourse. Clinicians share information about the clients and it is in everyone’s best interest that the information is shared accurately.
More importantly, the clinical practicum has solidified my love for speech pathology. To explain, I love working with my client on his goals and planning new activities for the therapy session. It has been extremely rewarding to witness his progress on his goals this semester. I look forward to enrolling in the two remaining clinical practicums and experiencing new clients and
As a speech pathologist came in and got my grandma to the point of where she had been prior to the stroke, it was amazing to watch. The speech language pathologist had so many skills that helped my grandmother better understand what was happening to her. At that time this is what I wanted to do. This is what I believed I wanted to put countless time, money, and love into. Just as I had discovered the word of Speech Language Pathology, South Dakota State University had officially ended their major speech
My interest in Speech Language Pathology (SLP) stemmed from a research project during my undergraduate studies, but my personal and professional experiences galvanized my desire to pursue a Master’s degree in this field. I stand stronger today because of the lessons learned from teaching abroad, supervising children, volunteering at a hospital, and working with other university students. Because of these experiences, I am eager to delve into the profession that involves empowering clients, building rapport with them, and merging science with creativity to facilitate their development of communication skills. By obtaining my Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology, I know I will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to turn my passion into action at such a rich and diverse environment.
Before I majored in linguistics, I was not aware that such career existed, and I believe that it applies to many people who are not studying related field and that is part of the reasons why I want to pursue my degree in communication disorder. When I took a class for language and communication disorder class, I conducted a survey where I asked several people on campus if they knew about aphasia, and not surprisingly, many people have never heard of the word aphasia. Many people do not even know what speech pathologist is and what they do. After I complete my degree or even while I am studying, I want to spread the awareness of language and communication disorder, and the existence of speech pathologists, so that individuals with communication disorder can seek help
This career choice interests those who really enjoy helping others and have a nurturing spirit. It takes a “people person” to accomplish the everyday tasks of a speech language pathologist. The field of speech pathology can interest those looking for a career based on healthcare and medicine. Various classes offered in highschool can spark student’s attention and allow them to fall into therapy research; such as a health occupations class. Similar to speech therapy, “Occupational therapy, a health care profession, aims at enabling people to live life to its fullest. To occupational therapists, a “full” life means engagement in the activities that a person wants and needs to do, no matter what injury, illness, condition, disability, lifestyle,
Some of the duties of a speech pathologist are, but are not limited to, evaluate patients’ levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty, identify treatment options, teach patients how to make sounds and improve their voices, work with patients to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow, and counsel patients and families on how to cope with communication and swallowing disorders (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015). ‘If the speech-language pathologists work in medical facilities, they work with physicians and surgeons, social workers, psychologists, and other healthcare workers’ (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015).