My journey toward becoming a speech-language pathologist has been filled with experiences, challenges, growth, and opportunities that have helped shape the person and future clinician I am becoming. When I first began my undergraduate experience at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, I knew that I was interested in speech-language pathology, but I did not yet fully understand everything the field had to offer or what I wanted my own career to look like. Throughout my time at SIUE, I have had the opportunity to learn more about communication, language, speech, and the many different ways speech-language pathologists can make a difference in the lives of others.
One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been realizing how much I have grown since beginning college. Through my classes and experiences, I have become more confident in my ability to communicate, work with others, present information, and step outside of my comfort zone. My involvement in CODES has especially helped me grow as a student and as a person. It has taught me the importance of collaboration and reminded me that everyone brings different strengths and perspectives to a team. These experiences have helped me become more comfortable sharing my ideas and have given me confidence that I will continue to grow throughout graduate school.
Outside of the classroom, becoming involved in organizations and activities has also played an important role in my journey. Through NSSLHA and my involvement with Delight Ministries as a Delight Date Coordinator, I have had opportunities to build relationships, take on responsibilities, become more involved in my campus community, and develop my leadership skills. These experiences have shown me that some of the most important growth happens outside of the classroom and through the connections we make with other people.
As I prepare to apply to graduate school, I am excited to take the next step in my journey. I know that I still have so much to learn, and I look forward to continuing to challenge myself and discover what area of speech-language pathology I am most passionate about. I hope to enter graduate school with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Looking back at where I started, I am proud of the growth I have made so far, and I am excited to see where the next chapter takes me.