Personal Narrative

There are many attractions to Cal State Northridge and this online SLP master’s program. First, my husband and I are “Made in the CSU.” My husband and I held student executive officer positions at Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton, respectively. Becoming a Matador and expanding my graduate education to CSUN is a dream come true. Second, is my commitment to the California public education system, which has been fostered by numerous individuals whom I have met through my involvement in campus service at CSUF, as an advocate for public higher education on the California State Student Association, in my classes, and through my sorority. Third, is that I am a mother of two beautiful babies (and trying to adopt a third). Next year, my

husband will be overseas in Greece completing an archeological fellowship, and I will begin as a paid, SLP intern in the Morongo Unified School District (MUSD). The CSUN online master’s program is the only way I can maintain my career and keep my family physically, mentally, and financially stable because of its affordability and accessibility.
My family dynamic growing up is characterized by an alarming statistic: 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. My father is a Puerto Rican native, and he had a culturally-specific understanding of monogamy, which my American mother did not share. Thus, I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother did the best she could; however, she is a product of generational poverty. Such schemes of penury and low self-esteem are hard to break. While she worked three jobs, I did not get things that most children my age were privileged to. My father would call once every 6 months, speak Spanish to me, but he never committed to being a father. But every day, my mother was there. Every day my mother read to me and talked to me, exposing me to the intricacies of language and emphasized the importance of education and hard work. Through her unfaltering support of language and learning, I found my passion for teaching.
My acceptance into CSUF opened doors to new skills. I learned American Sign Language (ASL) and began studying communications, which launched me into a diverse range of multicultural experiences. My husband has mastered ancient Greek, Latin, German, and French as part of his academic studies. He and I have a lot of synergy in regards to language acquisition and development, and he adds to my understanding of language and interactions with my students. Continuing, my students expose me to new concepts and slang which provoke meditation on the ever-changing nature of language. Lastly, my newest-found passion focuses on children with chronic and acute traumas and the various escape mechanisms that accompany their communication such as imaginary languages. My drive and affinity for languages (ASL, Spanish, Mandarin, and the made-up Atlantean language), and my childhood experiences has lead me to be an SLP, and will be used towards my success in the CSUN online master’s program.
My experience with speech language pathology began with an extensive, six-month internship at St.

Jude’s Rehabilitation Center for stroke victims. I worked one-on-one with people who had severe strokes, which usually resulted in interrupting his or her speech production, aphasia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. At this rehabilitation center, I learned another form of communication; I learned to write upside down. With a whiteboard, I learned to connect and transfer information with each client by using picture systems and yes-or-no questions. Smiles would creep on clients’ faces because of the relationship we shared despite his or her inability to speak. One client, “Tom,” taught me an invaluable lesson on language. No matter what I tried, “Tom” refused to communicate with me, so I went to my supervisor and asked for help. She brought his Jewish background to my attention and explained that my questions were culturally narrow. Compassion was my intent, but my delivery was that of a novice. The next semester, I took a class on multiculturalism through language, and I earned an A+ from the department chair of my department, Toya Wyatt. In the end, empathy is a vital language skill as well. My experience with “Tom” motivated me to improve as an SLP and to refine my craft by acquiring more tools and strategies. I am now a better SLP because I recognize that there are a variety of communicative and linguistic backgrounds which affect a client’s ability to thrive. After I finished my degree at CSUF, I entered a master’s program in Special Education at UNLV through my participation as a Corps Member of Teach for

America.
Since then, I have been in the classroom as special education teacher . Individualized education programs, data assessment, parent surveys, and teacher observation recording are a part of my daily life. Similarly, my aptitude for creating meaningful behavior intervention plans and motivating students to learn is why my district hired me as an SLP. For the past 6 months I have been shadowing an experienced SLP in MUSD, Beverly Schick. During this time, I have given the Oral Passage Understanding Scale (OPUS) and Comprehensive Assessment for Spoken Language (CASL) to elementary and secondary students who range from severely disabled to mild learning disabilities. Furthermore, my speech reports and group sessions at Yucca Valley High School have been well-received by students, faculty, parents, and administrators alike. My mentor has taught me her organizational program, and I am more knowledgeable now on the administrative side of the job.
To conclude, I have mastered all the prerequisite course work, I have ample amounts of knowledge in fluency, articulation, neurology, and learning disabilities. My tool box of prognosis, one-on-one therapy, and group session lesson plans adhere to ASHA Code of Ethics and MUSD policy. Lastly, my drive and passion for both learning, extends not only to the betterment of myself and my family, but also the many communities I hope to serve. I hope to add CSUN to my “Made in the CSU” mantra.