Graduate /
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains and is immortal" SOP Speech P. [5]
Here is the new one!
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains and is immortal." These words spoken by Albert Pine embody my outlook on the field of speech-language pathology. I chose to pursue a career in speech-language pathology because I believe in celebrating small gains, in helping others little by little, and that by improving someone else's quality of life I am enriching my own.
I was not originally drawn to the field of speech-language pathology; I wanted to be an occupational therapist because I wanted to help people. After a few difficult classes that did not grasp my interest I realized that in order to succeed, I needed a major that went beyond my desire to help; I needed one that evoked passion. My "Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders" class helped me decide to pursue speech-language pathology. Our professor's twin brother came to our class to speak. He was choked by his umbilical cord during birth, which resulted in the use of a wheel chair and an augmentative communication device. He spoke about his resilience and the dedication it takes to use an augmentative communication device. His persistence sparked my interest to become a speech-language pathologist. It wasn't until I began working at Marion-Sterling, a school in Cleveland, that I found my true passion for this field. I have always wanted to improve the lives of children and through my work at this school I have been able to see the impact that a speech-language pathologist can have. These children go through unimaginable daily struggles, yet they continue to attend school due to the support of their teachers. Becoming a positive influence in the lives of these students has inspired my calling.
On my first day as a special education paraprofessional, I did not have much experience and I did not know what to expect. I felt in over my head as I incessantly chased around screaming children. This is where I met Chris, a non-verbal child with autistic characteristics. Challenges accompanied the first few days with Chris, I struggled to keep him calm and our communication was non-existent. I felt overwhelmed but I turned to what I knew best, language development and simple sign language. I persistently worked with Chris on one-word utterances and simple signs that went along with our daily routine. Now, Chris is greeting his peers as he walks into the class, saying one word to request and object, and using signs such as help and thank you. Each day that I work with Chris, I see progress. It may be slight and it may be gradual, but watching him successfully accomplish a speech sound is the greatest reward. This experience has helped my interest of language disorders grow. I have been able to work with Chris to improve consonant vowel blends, receptive and expressive language abilities, verbal imitation as well as other skills. Working with non-verbal and language impaired children has shown me what speech-language pathologists can experience.
Now, after working in a school with the type of children I will encounter as a speech-language pathologist, I am prepared to work with each and every type of student to ensure their success. The knowledge I have gained through the hands on experience, as a special education paraprofessional will help me achieve my goals in graduate school and in my pursuit to become a speech-language pathologist. Working at Marion-Sterling with children from low-income households with varying disabilities, has allowed me to find my love for the profession of speech-language pathology, and most importantly, it has allowed me to find my passion for making a difference in the education and success of children. After graduate school, I would like to continue working in school systems that primarily educate students from low-income families.
The rigorous Speech-Language Pathology program at ____________will prepare me for my future as a speech-language pathologist. As a graduate student, I am eager to expand on my experiences and work in a variety of settings. The clinical internships and public school internships at ___________ guarantee that I will graduate as a competent, well-rounded, and versatile speech-language pathologist. The graduate program at ________________ focuses on the skills that I need in order to meet my professional goals. While it is certainly true that ______________ has a lot to offer me, I am also confident that I will be an asset to the graduate program. My undergraduate education at Ohio University, my volunteer experiences, and my work at Marion-Sterling has provided me with the time management, preparation and passion that is needed to be successful in the field of speech-language pathology. After experiencing the satisfaction that comes from helping others learn to communicate, I know beyond a doubt that this is what I want to do with my life and that ____________has the graduate program to ensure my success.
