Graduate / 'Help to those suffering from speech and language disorders' - Speech Pathology [3]

I'm applying to the Speech Pathology Master's program as a non-traditional student, since I did not get my bachelor's in the field. The essay prompt wants me to write about past experiences and characteristics that have helped shape me. This is a rough draft, so I just need some help cleaning the essay up and making it perfect. Thanks!

My dad was diagnosed with stage-four cancer the summer before my sophomore year of college. One of his biggest regrets was never finishing college so from a young age he always emphasized the importance of education. He was a wise man, clever and always full of advice. One of his favorite sayings was "Do what you love and love what you do." He told me that if I followed this rule my career would never feel like work. February will mark the three-year anniversary of his death, but although time has passed, his words still ring loudly in my mind.

Throughout my college career I have been faced with obstacles, such as my father's death, but I have never allowed anything to come in the way of my education and my pursuit for a successful future. I chose to major in Psychology during my undergraduate education because I wanted to be able to help others. The feeling I got knowing I could touch someone's life gave me the intrinsic motivation I needed to succeed. I participated in an internship in a school district, my senior year, working closely with the child study team. I saw the process that is taken from assessment to evaluation to intervention for a child that presents with a disorder. It was through this internship however, that I realized that becoming a school psychologist was not the right outlet for me. It was through my work in the school district that showed me where my future lay.

As a substitute teacher I specialize mainly working in the special education classrooms with children who have a range of disabilities. Mainly I work with children with autism, but I have also interacted with children that have selective mutism, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, and hearing impairment, as well as children who stutter and have articulation difficulties. While some days are great, more often than not I am dealing with crying, temper tantrums and meltdowns. My job does not provide me with health insurance, nor is my hourly wage anything to be desired; yet, day after day I keep coming back. I pride myself on the work I do with these children and any progress I make with these kids, however small it may be, is good enough for me. I crave that sense of fulfillment, and it is from this desire that I want to become a Speech Pathologist. The education I have received throughout my collegiate career has laid the groundwork for me to excel in my future endeavors, particularly the Communication Disorders program at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. My experience and dedication demonstrate my commitment to this field and my hope to positively affect the lives of those suffering from speech and language disorders. I am confident that on my road to becoming a Speech Pathologist I will be able to prove to my dad, wherever he may be, that I am doing what I love, and I absolutely love what I am doing.