Graduate / My test taking skills improved after I discovered my calling for the Speech Language Pathology field [3]

For me to improve, please give me a rating. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best), what rating would you give me? Please include any areas I should improve on too, and if I should elaborate or if anything is not clear, ok? Thank you so much!

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To the Admission Committee:

It is my strong and genuine desire to be granted admission to the graduate program in Speech and Language Pathology with a specialization in Feeding and Swallowing at the University of Northern Colorado. I am a well-rounded, enthusiastic, and motivated Asian woman seeking to further her development as a professional and as an individual, and a fantastic candidate for this program because of my educational, research, teaching, and leadership background, a passion that stems from a true calling for service, and desire to improve the lives of others in need.

After high school, I pursued a college education at The University of Texas at Austin, where I had the life changing opportunity to tutor students in after-school programs. Tri-lingual in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, I tutored the children in different languages with their homework. This experience enhanced my desire for understanding children, and created in me an awareness of the importance of being able to communicate with others. Concurrently, I took a course called CSD 317M Communication with the Multi-Disabled that taught me about difficulties that can happen at birth that affects speech and language such as developmental delays. This experience oriented me in my decision to work with newborns and to see them through life for early childhood development in preparing them for everyday communication, school, and their adult lives.

At present, I am a speech language pathologist-assistant at Resource Therapy Center. I plan over 24 sessions with patients on a weekly basis from the Spanish-English bilingual community in Pasadena, TX in a clinical setting. My most interesting case is addressing the needs of a student that was born with a cleft palate and another student that shows symptoms of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Working with these two students allowed me to use Kaufman Speech Praxis Materials to address their speech language goals, and helped me to become interested in feeding and swallowing in children from birth and how it effects speech and language later in life.

The quality of instruction at your university will help me to achieve my goal of becoming a valuable Speech and Language Pathologist in the medical setting and early childhood education. Being given this educational opportunity will enable me to meet a profound need in preparing these children for communication in their life, school, and family for them to function and grow into their adult lives.

Although my grades were not strong in my early years of college, my study skills and my test taking skills improved after I discovered my calling for the Speech Language Pathology field. I paid attention to the details more in my studies, and I had a greater sense of urgency when tackling my courses. The urgency was motivated by the fact that I can help another person. Once accepted into your program, I will be committed and dedicated to making the most of every opportunity that is given to me for the greater good of others.

Graduate / Life stages are a natural part of life - Statement of Intent; Speech Pathology MA [3]

Can you please give me a rating, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best)? Personally, in this intent, I'm trying to express my career purpose, my interest, highlight my work experience, and the reason I'd like to attend this university.Lmk if this is all clear or too much, please. Thanks for your time!

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Life stages are a natural part of life. Preparing for change and adapting to life stages happen everyday for the young and old. As a professional in the speech language pathology field, I am applying to your graduate school program to answer a call to help families prepare their children in these life stages such as gaining a healthy weight in feeding or getting a child prepared for an early childhood learning facility. I am motivated to help transition children for the next step of their lives. I am a great candidate for your university because of my extensive work experience, my educational background, and my determination to see a child become successful in life.

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Graduate / I am committed to helping children transition into their next life stage - Statement of Intent [4]

Can you please give me a rating, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best)? Personally, in this intent, I'm trying to express my career purpose, my interest, highlight my work experience, and the reason I'd like to attend this university. Lmk if this is all clear or too much, please. Thanks for your time!

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The milestone typically seen in normal speech development are when babies coo or babble in the first year of their lives. However, when a speech-language problem is present in a child such as playing appropriately with toys, it can disrupt them from moving smoothly into their next life stage of everyday social communication with their peers. In my job, I am committed to helping children transition into their next life stage whether learning first words or helping them to have basic functional communication with their parents. While my skills are strong, I know that there will be more complicated speech-language cases in my career. Resolving to help children and their families by being more equipped is my motivation for applying to your graduate school program.

At The University of Texas at Austin, I took a course called CSD 317M Communication with the Multi-Disabled that awakened me to disabilities related to speech and language. For one assignment, students were asked to write from the perspective of a person with a disability and how the person would feel about walking around the campus. I took the perspective of a visually impaired person and imagined the challenge of walking across the street of an intersection. I became aware of the importance of accessibility and empathized how the quality of life for a person can be so easy for me, but difficult for another person. In particular, I became interested in working with children, and helping them from the beginning of their lives for them to become successful in life no matter their disability.

At present, I am a speech language pathologist-assistant at Resource Therapy Center. I plan over 24 sessions with patients on a weekly basis from the Spanish-English bilingual community in Pasadena, TX in a clinical setting. My most interesting case is addressing the needs of a 3-year-old boy that had moderate to severe speech impairment, a language delay, and attention deficits. My treatment plan with my supervisor included play therapy, multiple cuing, and behavior shaping tactics. The child was resistant at first, but over the following months, he showed more improvement in following directions, naming body parts, and producing basic approximations. After a year of speech therapy, he is now enrolled in a preschool for two days a week. His mother reports progress that he is paying attention more in school and is more focused. I believe that my professional experience in working with children like him, however I know that the graduate course offerings at your university will take me to the next level in helping more children like this young boy.

At your university, I am interested in the feeding and swallowing courses and the early childhood development classes. These classes will help me to achieve my goal of becoming a Speech and Language Pathologist in the medical settings and in early childhood education settings. Being given this opportunity at your school will enable me to meet a profound need in preparing children for their next life stages.

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