I realized the other day that I blog about almost everything that is going on in our lives except for grad school. Which doesn't really give you a good picture of what our lives are really like. 80% of the time I'm at grad school or working on stuff for grad school. Similarly, Scott is usually working on his growing business. While the other things in our lives are sometimes more exciting or blog worthy, I love grad school and I want to look back, read this blog and remember what it was all about.
I am studying to become a Speech Language Pathologist. (with all of these lovely people^)
What's that? It's a fancy word for a speech therapist.
Yes, I will help kids who can't say their R's or their L's.
But that is a VERY small part about what SLP's do
and that is something I didn't understand until I began studying this field in my undergraduate courses.
We help people communicate. And that can mean SO many different things.
Seriously, the list of things we treat really never ends.
(Autism, Language Impairment, Neurological Disorders, Apraxia of Speech,
Aphasia, Dyshagia, Speech Delay, TBI, Articulation, Voice disorders-- to name a few)
There is so much variety in this field and that is one thing I absolutely love about it!
As an SLP, I can treat clients at any age! Literally from birth to the very elderly.
I can work in a hospital, a rehab center, a nursing home, a school or have my own practice.
It is seriously the best profession. So many different ways to help people!
Grad school is INTENSE.
On top of having classes, you are a graduate clinician.
This means that I have my own clients that I give therapy to weekly.
This was definitely the most intimidating part for me. How was I supposed to help people and give them therapy?? I felt like I barely knew anything! But I knew more than I gave myself credit for and I have learned more from being a graduate clinician than from any other aspect of grad school. It is the best part in my opinion. Yes, it is also the hardest. But it is so rewarding and it shows me what I will really be doing when grad school is all over.
That's not it though haha.
On top of classes and being a graduate clinician, I will do two internships.
One is an adult placement. Meaning that I will work with the adult population. I'm hoping to do this this upcoming summer at a Hospital. The Second internship is a child placement and I'll do that in a school.
Then...
I will write a thesis.
I've started working on mine, which makes it a little less intimidating, but it is a long process with a lot of research, data collection and writing. I've still got a lot to learn about this part of my graduate work, but I'm really happy with my topic and my thesis chair.
Then I will take the Praxis exam.
And then I will be a licensed Speech Language Pathologist!!
Did that overwhelm you?
Ya, it overwhelms me all the time. Like almost daily. It is a lot to do.
But you know what's crazy? I want to do it. I want to do it all because I freaking love what I do!
It is a blessing I have found something that I am so passionate about. Something that allows me to serve and help others. Something that teaches me to be selfless. Something that undoubtedly is preparing me to be a better mother.
And something that makes me a better person everyday.
Yes, I will help kids who can't say their R's or their L's.
But that is a VERY small part about what SLP's do
and that is something I didn't understand until I began studying this field in my undergraduate courses.
We help people communicate. And that can mean SO many different things.
Seriously, the list of things we treat really never ends.
(Autism, Language Impairment, Neurological Disorders, Apraxia of Speech,
Aphasia, Dyshagia, Speech Delay, TBI, Articulation, Voice disorders-- to name a few)
There is so much variety in this field and that is one thing I absolutely love about it!
As an SLP, I can treat clients at any age! Literally from birth to the very elderly.
I can work in a hospital, a rehab center, a nursing home, a school or have my own practice.
It is seriously the best profession. So many different ways to help people!
Grad school is INTENSE.
On top of having classes, you are a graduate clinician.
This means that I have my own clients that I give therapy to weekly.
This was definitely the most intimidating part for me. How was I supposed to help people and give them therapy?? I felt like I barely knew anything! But I knew more than I gave myself credit for and I have learned more from being a graduate clinician than from any other aspect of grad school. It is the best part in my opinion. Yes, it is also the hardest. But it is so rewarding and it shows me what I will really be doing when grad school is all over.
That's not it though haha.
On top of classes and being a graduate clinician, I will do two internships.
One is an adult placement. Meaning that I will work with the adult population. I'm hoping to do this this upcoming summer at a Hospital. The Second internship is a child placement and I'll do that in a school.
Then...
I will write a thesis.
I've started working on mine, which makes it a little less intimidating, but it is a long process with a lot of research, data collection and writing. I've still got a lot to learn about this part of my graduate work, but I'm really happy with my topic and my thesis chair.
Then I will take the Praxis exam.
And then I will be a licensed Speech Language Pathologist!!
Did that overwhelm you?
Ya, it overwhelms me all the time. Like almost daily. It is a lot to do.
But you know what's crazy? I want to do it. I want to do it all because I freaking love what I do!
It is a blessing I have found something that I am so passionate about. Something that allows me to serve and help others. Something that teaches me to be selfless. Something that undoubtedly is preparing me to be a better mother.
And something that makes me a better person everyday.
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