Ā I posted my first entry last month and received a ton of lovely comments/suggestions from my family and friends. One of them was to do an āAbout Meā post where I answer questions theyāve wanted to ask me for some time. So, thatās what I did! For those who donāt know me personally, I hope these give you a little more insight into my life as a grad student. If you have any more questions, comment below or send them to [email protected]
What does a typical day in your program look like?
I have two classes a day twice a week (Friday and Saturday) from 8:00 AM-1:30 PM. This semester we've had weekly workshops on Friday's from 2:30-3:30. My days on campus are LONG. The upside of having bi-weekly classes is that I have Monday-Thursday and Sunday free. That's more than most SLP graduate programs Iāve researched offer.Ā
How long will it take for you to finish your degree?
My program is a three-year program. The first two years are academic and reaching the necessary hours of observation before you can begin your clinical practice during third year.
Pursuing a PhD is something that I've thought a lot about and the short answer is, yes. This year Iāll be assisting a professor with her research and learning as much as I can about what goes into pursuing a PhD.
How has studying SLP changed your worldview?
Studying to become an SLP has forced me to really look at myself, my beliefs, and the cultures that surround me. Communication disorders can affect anyone regardless of race, age, or gender. In the times we're living in today, it's even more important to be culturally aware and open to diversity. It will be crucial when interacting with clients, evaluating, diagnosing, and treating communication disorders.
What has been the most challenging thing about this Masters for you?
I thought moving would be the hardest thing for me to adjust to, but what surprised me has been the overwhelming feeling of "Can I do this? Like, for real?" These first two semesters have been great, but also so heavy in academics. It may sound silly to someone unfamiliar reading this, but it comes to a point where you're taking class after class and learning about what will be expected of you in a relatively short period of time and you think "This is really happening. Aghh!" In talking with other SLP grad students I've learned it's a common feeling and that's made me feel SO much better. I'm still very new to this process and I'm learning to just chill out a bit, believe in myself, and take it day by day.
What kind of person do you feel should take on this Masters?
The obvious answer would be something like "You have to be passionate about helping others." While this is true, thereās so much more to it than that. Some questions you should ask yourself are: Am I a people person? Would I be able to work with children, adults, and/or the elderly? What is it about SLP that interests me? Am I prepared for the course load? There are many more questions I could come up with. I know I had them when I considered a graduate program!
Additionally, in this major you will learn about so many different pathologies, age groups, normalized tests, criterion tests, treatment plans, so on and so forth. Not everything you learn about will be your favorite subject and thatās ok. Be willing to learn as much as you can. You might surprise yourself by liking a subject you once werenāt that interested in (itās happened to me!)
What has been the most interesting thing you've learned so far?
Honestly, everything! While some subjects are harder for me to click into than others, learning about communication disorders is very interesting to me. As an undergrad I was introduced to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and itās been a research interest of mine since then. Iām grateful to have been given the opportunity to assist my professor in her research this year and present at the ASHA convention in November. Yay!
How has the adjustment been with transferring to a Spanish program after spending so many years in the American school system?
Truthfully, it was scary and it still is at times. Going in to this, I knew my classes would be in Spanish and so would my clinical practice. I was raised bilingual, but after spending so many years in the US, it did worry me that my Spanish speaking and writing skills would not be to par with my peers. While it's been challenging at times, it's also been the best thing for me because I'm now freshening up on skills that I hadn't used in a long time and they will transfer over to my future career.