Big Question: Why do I think I wilI make a good SLP?

The hardest question to ever answer is why I would be good at something. I am a very humble person that has received a lot of success because of that. I hate talking about what I do well but I chose this question because it brings me out of my comfort zone and I feel teaching is all about that. It is going that extra distance that may not feel comfortable but will be the best for everyone in the long run.

I believe I hold a great amount of compassion towards people. I feel compassion is crucial when working with individuals who have a communication disorder. If a SLP does not feel some sort of emotion towards his/her client there will never be any type of success. The client needs to feel some sort of rapport between himself/herself and the clinician or nothing will ever be accomplished.

I also feel I am a very caring individual. I cannot stand it when someone is upset or is having difficulty achieving something. I have a hard time sitting back and watching someone go through a difficult time without me trying to help. It hurts me to see someone be hurt. Becoming a SLP, I would most likely endure a lot of pain by seeing my clients go through hardships each day, but that would just make me work that much harder in making their days better.

In the end, I think I will become a good SLP when I have possessed the knowledge and experience to be one in the “real world”. I will work each day to make sure every one of my clients feels the same way.

Big Question: What makes a teacher successful and who should be the judge of that success and why?

Who provides teachers with a job? It is simply the students. I feel the students are what make a teacher successful. If it weren't for the students, success would not be able to be measured. If the students become motivated to learn and truly learn specific material they have become successful. If students enjoy going to school, have fun in the classroom, and are not afraid to talk to their teachers, teachers have succeeded. There is no way a teacher is successful if he/she has a college degree and completed all the schooling to be named a teacher and land a job. Teaching is far from the education the individual was provided with. The way students look and feel about that certain teacher with the college degree is what truly matters. The way in which learning takes place and how well the students actually learn the material is what matters when it comes to success.

When I look back on all my teachers, the ones that were successful in my mind truly cared about me. I knew they listened to every word I said and accepted me for who I was no matter. They motivated me to try my hardest with everything I did and always expected that. However, not only did they act this way towards me, this was the way they were to every student.

To be a SLP in the schools, the only way I will ever be successful is if my students overcome their objectives and goals. It is my job to make sure this happens. I need to find every possible way to make sure it does indeed happen. Success is only measured by my students’ achievements and success.

Big Question: As a future SLP what do I see as my main weaknesses and how will I work on improving these?

Having a weakness can be very negative in certain aspects, but it can also make a person strive to work that much harder and be that much better. I feel my weaknesses in becoming a Speech Language Pathologist are not being knowledgeable in my field of study when I work with clients and not trusting myself when making decisions for my clients.

Having the education to become a SLP is something I have been learning for the past four years. I feel I have learned a great amount of information, but there is still so much I need to know. My biggest fear is being presented with a client and having no idea what is wrong with them or how to go about helping him/her. I know I still have graduate school to attend, but not knowing what to do is my biggest fear.

I would call myself a very indecisive person. At times it can be fine, but for the most part I wish I could be able to just make up my mind and be done with it. I am worried that a colleague of mine will give me a choice of what to do with a client and I won’t be able to decide what is best for him/her. I need to learn to trust myself and realize I do, indeed, know what I am doing and what is best for each client I work with. Being indecisive in my profession is not going to get me anywhere. I need to become confident in my decisions and realize that I do know and understand what is best for others.

Overall, having these weaknesses will help me become a better SLP. I will strive to be a life-long learner in my profession. I will also try to become more confident in my decisions as time progresses. I feel this will happen with more education and experience.

Big Question: What subjects did I dislike or struggle as a child?

When first reading this question, it kind of made me smile, so I knew I had to choose it. It made me think back to all childhood and school memories and every single teacher I have ever had. I honestly can say I liked everything growing up as a child. I never fully struggled as a child in any subject except for art. Maybe that is why, to this day, I still dislike art and struggle with it. I am the least creative person I think I know. If someone told me to draw something it would be of a “stick person”. I really try when it comes to that kind of stuff, but I just am not good at it. It puts me in a bad mood whenever I have to make or draw something.

The funny thing is I liked all of my art teachers growing up. I got a long with each one of them and felt they were very talented teachers. They never told me I was horrible at art. As long as I was trying my best that is all that matters. I think that is very true when it comes to teachers and students these days.

As long as a teacher can fully understand and see a student is giving it every thing they have when it comes to school related subjects, I feel that is what is most important. Not every student is going to be great at every subject, but on the other hand, not every student is going to be bad at every subject. When a student just cannot get it, the teacher needs to step in and acknowledge the student’s efforts. I am fortunate I had teachers that recognized my efforts and still made me enjoy something I struggled with.

In the end, I am very jealous for the people that are extremely creative. I wish I could have some of your talent, but hopefully with my students and clients I can come up with different ways of being creative that don’t deal with colors and paper.

How do I plan on leaving my "mark" on my students, clients, and profession?

I have had many amazing people and teachers leave memorable marks on me. Many people have made me the person I am today. They have taught me and shown me what it takes to be happy and successful in life. However, I would rather leave a mark on someone else. There are many things I strive to do, but to really make someone never forget me in a positive way is an amazing thing. Helping an individual overcome a problem in his/her life is something that makes life worth living.

Leaving a mark on someone is something a professional who works with others should strive for day in and day out. Not only am I trying to help a person overcome his/her communicative disorder, but I am helping the individual live a happier, worthwhile life.

In the profession of Speech Language Pathology, it is imperative I challenge myself to being the best possible SLP I can be. Knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life is my number one goal in my profession. I want my students and clients to look forward to coming to therapy with me and remembering me for how I helped them achieve their goals. Leaving a mark on every client I work with is crucial in my mind. I want each and every one of them to understand that I worked my hardest in trying to help them. I want them to remember that I pushed them that extra step in becoming a better communicator and left that mark on them for the rest of their lives.

Why do I want to be a SLP?

I feel that if I do not know the answer to this question than I probably should not be a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). This is the most important question I chose because of what it’s really asking; why do I want to spend the rest of my life helping people with communication disorders?

There are many things people have gone through that have made them the person they are today. These things can truly inspire someone to be something that will give them passion and drive in life. I never thought all my ear problems and surgeries would lead me to becoming a SLP, but in the end that is the only thing I can think of that will make me happy and give me a sense of fulfillment in life.

Having a communication problem is more than just saying s’s for th’s or wearing hearing aids. It’s a disorder that everyone sees and hears from the outside. Many cannot look past the disorder and see the real person. That’s where I as a SLP come in. My job is to try to help individuals overcome their disorder so they can go on with their lives. This world is too cruel for many people, so why live with a problem that is able to be overcome.

I am a passionate person and hard worker. When I know I can do something I put everything into that task with everything I have. I may not be the smartest or the quickest at first, but in the end I will never be defeated. Being a SLP is very similar. Whatever type of caseload, disorder, or client is put forth onto me I will strive for perfection and work my hardest on accomplishing the disability.