Why I Want To Be A Speech And Language Pathologist

Have you ever experienced a moment of clarity that changed your perspectives and life goals all in a single flash? My sudden insight came during the summer of 2011 when I volunteered at Schramm Educational Center, an alternative school for children with severe to profound disabilities. Normally, I assisted a preschool classroom with activities and field trips, however, on this particular day, an incredible speech therapy session inspired me to pursue my studies in Speech and Hearing Science. I watched in awe as a nonverbal, wheelchair-bound child with significant cognitive and motor impairments used her eyes to express yes and no. Most people would have difficulty recognizing ability in this child, unable to see past her physical limitations. The worlds of diversity and disability collided as I realized the importance and basic human right of communication. Little did I know that my journey to become a Speech and Language Pathologist would be founded on this single day; I had found my passion.

I graduated high school a semester early, achieving twenty-three credit hours at Illinois Community College prior to attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This allowed me to take fewer credit hours each semester in order to fully focus on academics while also saving time for extracurricular activities and community service. As an undergraduate, I became interested in and sought out scholarly research opportunities in the areas of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), neuroscience, infant cognition, and telecommunication therapy. XXX. I was fortunate to have been provided an opportunity, through the AAC Lab, to advance my research and communication skills by publishing scholarly research videos and co-presenting at multiple local and national conferences, including the 2016 ASHA Conference, TASH Conference, and Undergraduate Research