GLASS & Observation Tips

It's freezing outside...how many more days until summer?  As the weather is getting colder it is never to early to think about summertime opportunities.  Any break is a great chance to shadow Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in your area.  It'll help you get a better idea of what kind of setting you'd prefer post graduation, and those in the field are a great source for guidance.  Finding someone to shadow and going through with it can sometimes be intimidating, so I put a list together of helpful tips I've learned through shadowing.

1. Ask anyone about shadowing opportunities, the answer may surprise you.  It can be hard to figure out where to get started in your shadowing search.  You can try searching the internet for sources but that can be frustrating at times.  Instead, try to let those around you know you're interested in shadowing an SLP or AuD, you may be surprised at who knows who.  In high school one of my dance coaches was also a special needs teacher, and while we were catching up my freshman year she gave me the names of all of her SLP friends who would allow me to shadow them, and the list grew from there.
2. Dress to impress.  This may go without saying, but be sure to always dress professionally while shadowing.  You never know who you will meet or impress.
3. Always ask to come back.  Once you find someone to shadow, chances are they they know another people in the profession who would love for you to shadow them.  Always ask the professional you shadow if you can come back again or if their's anyone else you could shadow in your area of interest, you never know what opportunity you'll find.
4. Keep documentation of your shadowing.  One of my biggest regrets is not keeping track of all the SLPs I have shadowed.  Learn from my mistake and keep track of all of them from the start, you WILL need them eventually!

And if you can, NSSLHA has a great opportunity for shadowing through GLASS!  It's a big time commitment, but a great way to shadow during the school year.  Some of our current participants took the time to write about their experiences and this is what they shared:

"I love working with her and I don’t ever feel useless. I get a good mix of observation and work time, so it’s good!"

-Stephanie Andres

"She is extremely nice and is always giving me advice and knowledge that is helpful in regards to graduate school as well as speech pathology in general. I never thought I would like the school setting of speech pathology but I surprisingly am enjoying it and could see myself working in the school setting as an SLP. She sets a great example for the type of SLP I want to become."

-Kendra Roberts

"Experiences like this are what make me excited to become an SLP, and after working with my teacher I am more motivated to do what I need to do at Purdue to become a successful SLP"

-Lauren Caputo

 "Some days I help her with paperwork and compiling speech samples and other days I just observe. Since I'm there the same time every week I get to see the same kids every week which I love! The kids now know me and she involves me in the sessions which I'm very grateful for. One of her students is apraxic which is my main interest. Because of this I am getting more practice with AAC and a better look into apraxia. I always come with questions and I'm learning a lot for her!"

 -Erin Logan

Have you had success with shadowing?  What did you learn from it?

Thanks for reading everyone, have a great Thanksgiving!

*Special thanks to Vice President Becca Henaghan for collecting GLASS quotes and her hard work put into the program*

Crossroads Thank Yous & Reflection

Hello everyone!  I hope you all are having a lovely week.  Thanksgiving break is creeping up on us and I can hardly believe it.  I know I am feeling overwhelmed by all the work that has to be completed before then, but don't stress, it'll all get done!

        Crossroads seems as though it was a long time ago, but it was less than two weeks ago!  I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for all your hard work, you made Crossroads a huge success! I really enjoyed getting to know so many of you better. Even if you only volunteered for a short time or felt that you didn't do much, you made a lasting impression on the presenters and professors who attended.  It was amazing to see so many of you eager to help and to learn more about the field.

        For me, Crossroads is always the reminder I need about the big picture.  It's easy to get caught up in the comparison game; making sure your grades are the best they can be and that your experiences and involvement in clubs will make you stand out when you apply to grad school.  I know I am guilty of this, but it'll only make you want to rip your hair out.  Crossroads shows how what we learn in the classroom actually applies to the real world.  Crazy, right? But our curriculum is designed to help us become the best possible clinician we can be.  So while grades and volunteering is important, it is even more essential that we do not lose sight of the end result and that one day we will be able to better someone's quality of life.  So learn as much as you can without stretching yourself too far, but do it out of passion for the field rather than for your resume.

What was your takeaway from Crossroads?  I'd love to hear about it!

Some of our lovely volunteers!

 NSSLHA Exec

Exec at the NSSHLA table

Re-educating Society: Seeing Abilities rather than "Disabilities"

Hi everyone!  I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing October break.  I can't believe it's coming to an end, this semester is just going by too quickly!

This week I was so inspired by a video going viral on social media about a father who loves his daughter, I though I would share it with you, if you haven't seen it yet. 

A Father's letter of confession 

This video touched on a lot of issues our society has with stereotyping individuals with any kind of disability.  I appreciated his honesty about what he believed before getting to know his daughter, and what ideas he had before about down syndrome, as they aren't uncommon beliefs.  Before getting to know his daughter, this dad was in total fear of what problems it would bring him, and what other people would think.  He was worried that others would think he had "bad genes."  After seeing the love his daughter evoked and all the things she could do, his only worry was about the education of others; he was afraid of how wrong he was before knowing his daughter, and that most of society may think the same way he did. 

When it comes to any individual with any kind of disability, whether it be a hearing loss or a developmental disorder, our society tends to lump all of these individuals into a group and sees them as strange and different.  Some members of society see these people as having "bad genes" and can't see the greatness in these individuals.  As Speech-Pathologists and Audiologists, we will have to educate families to forget the stereotypes.  Every person is different and no two disabilities are a like, and we want to make sure all of society is re-educated to see what these people CAN do rather than can't.  And this can sometimes be very frustrating.

I experienced this frustration over the summer.  I worked with NWSRA, an organization near my home that had summer camps for kids and teenagers and fun social events for adults with various sorts of special needs.  One of my campers was 19 years old and a total sweetheart, he gave the best hugs.  He was nonverbal and didn't use a communication board or sign language to communicate.  He used gestures to answer my yes/no questions and was usually pretty quiet, except at the pool.  Every day after lunchtime we went to the local pool, and every day he would scream with delight when he saw the pool.  Being in the water was his favorite, even when it was 60 degrees and drizzling.  He was also 6'2'', so we got a lot of positive and negative attention at the pool.  Luckily most of the adults at the pool were kind and understanding, and we made a lot of friends.  We got many glares, but not to many of those individuals approached us.  We really got the most attention from other kids at the pool, most were curious about why he would scream, and some were concerned that he was upset.  But I soon became frustrated when he became the target of bullying from other kids splashing him and calling him "crazy."  I would always say "he's having fun at the pool just like you," but they couldn't see past the fact he would only scream, and not talk.  One day, two young kids at the pool approached us, and one asked my why my camper was screaming.  I gave my usual speech about how the pool is is favorite, worrying that my camper would get bullied, when the other young girl piped in.  She said "that's just his own way to communicate, he's just telling everyone he's happy in his own way."  I was floored by this little girl's insight, and really impressed by her positivity  From then on I started using her explanation when I came across other curious kids at the pool.

Have you had the experience of explaining to someone how a disability will impact their language and hearing abilities?   How did you handle it if you faced stereotyping and prejudice?

I'll leave you with one of my favorite videos: Seth Goldberg, a participant in NWSRA adult programs, interpreting for a Josh Groban concert that was in Chicago this summer.  His talent is amazing and the passion that he has is a great example of how communicating in your own way is a beautiful thing.
You raise me up..skip to 30 seconds in

A Closer Look: The Statement of Purpose

Hello everyone! First of all, thank you everyone who came to our Callout! It’s always exciting to see so many new and returning members :)

Based on the poll results, I decided to gather information and post about the statement of purpose for applying to graduate schools.  I've been hearing seniors worry about it left and right, so I hope this is helpful.  It’s also good to reflect on these tips as a way of outlining your goals as an Undergraduate.

I am by no means an expert on writing a statement of purpose specifically for graduate school, but I do enjoy creating essays.  I went to Dr. Huber, Lauren Rosswurm, and the great people at Purdue OWL for more information that I’m very excited to share with all of you!

Getting Started

The Statement of Purpose is the most frightening part of the Graduate School application for many, mostly because it is just so vague.  For many programs, including Purdue, there is no prompt whatsoever. It’s just a very short 300-500 word piece about why you should be accepted in the program; and that lack of direction is frightening.  For me, in high school our hand was held throughout the whole college application process.  We practiced personal essays a whole year before actually having to do them, so it’s very strange to be on our own for such an important application.

If you feel the same way I do, take a deep breath.  Of course the Statement of Purpose is important, but it’s definitely not the most important thing on your application.  Think of it as your class participation.  Your whole grade is not riding on it, but if you’re at an 89% and the professor remembers you because you had a lot of in-class input, they will most likely move you up to an A.  A well written statement of purpose will help you if you have a few low grades in certain classes or for breaking ties if you have the same GPA and test scores as another applicant, but it certainly isn’t the majority of the reason you’ll get accepted into a program

So take away all that stress and worry.  Be excited!  You’re on your way to becoming a graduate student and finally landing your dream job as a SLP or AuD!  Focus on positive energy and that’ll really come through in your statement.

Before even thinking about starting your statement, take some time to reflect on a few questions:  what made you want to become a SLP or AuD?  Was there a specific experience or maybe an interesting fact you learned in school?  Why do you want to go to graduate school?  What are your goals for graduate school?  Where do you think you want your career path to go?  Is there a certain population you like to work with?

Reflect on all this and bullet-point your thoughts.  Outlining all these things will make it much easier to get started.

Time to write!

Like many essays, the introduction is the most difficult part to write.  It has to be the most interesting portion and must be relevant to the rest of your essay.  I almost never start out writing the introduction.  I find it much easier to complete the body and conclusion of my piece first and then go back to the introduction now that I have a clear understanding in what the rest of my essay is about.

The body of your essay

Here is where you focus on a few of your accomplishments.  DO NOT make a list of what you have done, that is what your resume is for.  Instead, focus on one or two things that were closest to your heart.  Try to avoid focusing on things you did in High School.  If you had an experience in High School that made you realize you wanted to be a SLP or AuD, that’s fantastic, use it as your introduction.  If you have been volunteering at a nursing home for the past 5 years, that’s wonderful, focus on what that whole experience taught you.  But no one wants to read about that one summer you babysat a child with a lisp unless it had a major effect on your career path decision.  Instead, focus on things you learned and accomplishments from your undergrad career, it is much more relevant.

 Then, take your interests and experiences as an undergrad and connect it with where you want your career path to go.  If you have a specific dream to help individuals with swallowing disorders, discuss that.  Having a specific goal in mind for what you want to do once you enter the real world makes your essay much stronger.  But for those of you who have no clue if they would rather work with kids on the autism spectrum or with adults with aphasia, that is completely OK!  Grad school serves as a learning tool for what options you have once you enter the real working world, and helps you grasp what you like to do best.  If this is true for you, just make sure you make it clear that you know what a SLP or AuD can do.

The conclusion

This is where you should get specific with the program you are applying to.  Make sure to do your research, and include why you want to attend that specific school.  Not only does this appeal to the readers of your statement, but it’s also good for you to do your research about a school to see if it’s a good fit for you.  You don’t want to apply to just any school; that is a waste of your time and money.  You should include specific research within the program that interests you, classes they offer, professors you’d love to work with, etc.  Definitely name drop and get as specific as you can, that way the readers know you’re seriously interested in the program.

The introduction

Now that you have your body and conclusion, you should have a clear understanding of what your introduction should be about.  Here you should use an interesting, relevant reason why you want to be a SLP or AuD and what got you interested.  Maybe you went to a SLP or an AuD as a child, or maybe you learned about neurogenic speech disorders in a class.  You can use a specific story; just make sure it is sincere.  This is where you use ethos to your advantage.

Check and double check

It is super important to have someone else read over your statement once you have finished your first draft.  Understand that you will probably go through a lot of drafts, so start the writing process early.  Purdue has some awesome resources for this including the Purdue Writing Lab and the Center for Pre-Professional Advising.  You can schedule an appointment or go to an info session and have someone there look over your statement.  Use these resources for double checking your grammar, spelling, and to make sure it is overall logical and consistent.  These experts there are great, but they may not necessarily know what our specific programs are looking for as far as content goes.  For content, have a professor or a graduate student in our field go over your draft.  They know well what our specific program is looking for.  Just make sure to only ask one or two professors or grad students to check your work; they all have different ideas of what makes a good statement so only asking the same people will make your statement consistent and avoid confusion.

Most importantly, be honest and be you!  As Dr. Seuss said, “today you are You, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is Youer that You!”  Absolutely cheesy, but true!  And that is what graduate programs want to see.  It can be extremely tempting to exaggerate your accomplishments or discuss career goals you’re maybe interested in but uncertain about.  But no quality is more attractive than honesty and individuality.

That was a lot of information, thanks for reading!  I hope you found it helpful! Remember to stay calm and focus on positive thoughts.

Sources

Purdue OWL:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/969/01/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/

Go to the center for Pre-professional advising! They specifically help students who are interested in health related programs

http://www.purdue.edu/prehealth/

Purdue’s Programs

http://www.purdue.edu/hhs/slhs/graduate/Graduate_Application_Info.html

Again, big thank you to Dr. Huber and Lauren for giving me some great information!

Welcome, or welcome back, to NSSLHA!

Hello all!  I hope you all had a wonderful summer and a smooth start to the school year.  The beginning of any school year can bring a mix of emotions.  From excitement about making friends and starting new classes, to anxiety about new subjects to master and all the work that needs to be done by December.  As students, we are so busy with school we don’t have an adequate amount of time to worry about the GREs and Grad school applications, or what we will even do after Graduate school!  That is what NSSLHA is here for.  It’s a wonderful network of resources for all of the questions you may have about anything SLHS related, and I hope to do my absolute best to answer your specific questions!  So here is a quick poll, please pick what you would like to know more about from me (you can pick more than one)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KLBV88N

And about handling anxiety: some of the best advice about going back to school I have ever received was to be sure to start working on the first day.  Getting on schedule with readings and homework assignments insure that you won’t feel discouraged and behind later in the semester J

And don’t forget…FALL 2013 CALLOUTS are next week on Tuesday 8/27 at 6:30 pm in MSEE B012.  We will have fun activities and you’ll get to learn about all the awesome opportunities planned for the semester.  Have a fabulous rest of the week!

Final Grad School Thoughts

Friends! This will be my last grad school post and my last post in general. I will be attending Texas Christian this fall (for Speech Language Pathology)! 

Last night was our final NSSLHA meeting and the grad school panel. I remember last year, I went home with a stomachache and shaking hands to research grad schools. And while this whole grad school business wasn’t nearly as horrible as I thought it would be, it was nice to be on the other side of things. Here are my final thoughts! 

Head advice  

(related to the intellectual/planning/organizing aspects of applying.)

-Be organized! So hard, I know. Get a binder and collect information for all of the schools, including the phone number and email address of graduate course secretaries. 

- Think big picture: where do you want to live? If you hate winter, don’t apply to schools in Minnesota.. just don’t. Because you will spend your money on the application and then when spring rolls around, realize how silly it was because if you had the choice, you’d never go there. 

-Ask professors where they went to grad school, why they chose that school, why they chose to do research, etc. Just in general, asking people why and how they chose a school is a great way to gain insight. 

-Visiting schools is great, but don’t feel like you have to make cross-country trips just to get accepted. (I actually didn’t visit any schools.) 

-Personal statement tip: Don’t be afraid to tell a sweet story, but be concise! I was so confused about the personal statement, thinking I had to sound all professional and smart. But then someone told me to think of it this way: until the school reads your personal statement, you are just a set of GRE scores, GPA, and list of accomplishments. They don’t get a glimpse of your character, of what’s important to you, of why you’re willing to invest time and money in this education until they read your personal statement. So be wise with your words! 

Heart Advice

(related to the less intellectual but still very important aspect of applying. The stress and anxiety that comes with throwing yourself at a grad school and saying “Here I am, please accept me!”)


- Take some time before starting the process and reflect on why you want to pursue this field. Then share that with a friend or write it down. This can help clear your mind. 

- Be careful with comparing yourself to other people. No one has a story quite like yours. So, own your uniqueness. Transferring schools, switching majors, taking a year off to work, anything "unconventional", relate it back to how it will make you a better SLP/AuD. Conversations that lead to comparisons are generally not helpful. 

-You will probably cry a few times during the process, but that’s okay. Don’t we always cry about the things dearest to our heart? You cry because you care about this and that is a good thing. 
        
- Something that helped me when thoughts rose up if I don’t get accepted anywhere.. well, I would probably just start applying for jobs. The sun would still rise up and be all pretty in the sky the next morning, my family would still live in our same hometown, my friends would still love me. Rejection stings yes, but that doesn’t mean life is any less valuable. 

-Finally, I love this quote on control. A good reminder that all of this (applications, decisions, programs) doesn’t have to be perfect to be sweet and rewarding. Be genuine throughout it all. 

“Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.” Anne Lamott 

P.S. Thanks for reading y'all. 

Language & Loneliness

No shame here, I think we’ve all felt lonely at times. Big times, feeling forgotten by people that you adore. Little times, being left out of an inside joke that has everyone else rolling on the floor. Both cases can leave you feeling hopeless and both cases matter deeply.

And as future SLPs and Audiologists, I believe we play a role in fighting this loneliness. We help to right the wrong-ness of feeling alone. Because we are menders of communication, and language lets us share life together, to know and be known. You can laugh because one friend says “y’all” and the other says “you guys.” You can roll your eyes when your dad tells the same story you’ve heard several times. You can smile because there is a letter in the mailbox for you. You can explain to a friend why your feelings are hurt and you can tell a professor why you’re excited for next year. This might seem trivial, but it’s all loaded with meaning. Language serves as sweet evidence that we are living life well together.

Isn't it so easy to worry about formants and bilabials and stuttering and cranial nerves and hearing aids and the fact that I've used “and” way too many times in this sentence? Those details are so important, but thank goodness they’re not the only reasons we do this. Life is precious, but doing life together with people you love? That is golden.

{Friends! I am graduating so soon. I will miss writing for this little blog. :) }

Officers 2013-2014

Introducing the 2013-2014 officers! 

First, and most importantly.. if you ran and did not get elected run again next year! Being on the NSSLHA exec board is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had at Purdue. Being a team captain for Relay for Life and/or serving on a committee for the ARC dance or other events are great ways to step up and show you are committed to this organization. 

President: Courtney Wisher
Junior, from Greentown, IN


Favorite NSSLHA event: The Arc Dance because its always fun to interact with the people of ARC and see how excited they are for the annual Valentine's Dance.

Reason she picked SLHS: I enjoy working with people and I am interested in learning more about communication disorders.  

Hobbies/sports/other clubs: Running, shopping, College Mentors for Kids, Health & Human Sciences Ambassadors and Student Office Staff at Windsor Halls

Favorite class: SLHS 304 Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism

Dream job? Work in a hospital or private clinic as a speech language pathologist

Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue - Go out of your comfort zone and try new things! College is the best four years of your life so enjoy it while it lasts.

Vice President: Becca Henaghan 
Junior, from Valparaiso, IN

Favorite NSSLHA event: Arc dance, it's always lots of fun dancing and hanging out with everyone there!

Reason she picked SLHS: One of the kids I used to nanny for had a speech impediment and I got to see his therapy with his slp! So it got me interested in it! 

Hobbies: Alpha chi omega, Purdue ambassadors, PUDM PR committee 

Favorite class: Slhs 430

Dream job? Be a slp at Chicagoan children's hospital

Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue:
I've learned that you need to make sure you enjoy what you're doing always!

Treasurer: Rachel Morrow

Junior from Dyer, IN

Favorite NSSLHA event: Easter Egg Hunt; The kids looked like they had so much fun and it was a blast to decorate for them!

Why she picked SLHS: My mom was in an accident when I was younger and had to go through speech therapy

Hobbies: Best Buddies, member of AOII, watching movies, hanging out with my friends 

Favorite class: ASL
Dream job? work in a hospital's clinic to work with TBI patients

Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue: To be true to myself and never let anyone bring you down. Be the best you can be! 

Recording Secretary: Hillary Greeson 

Junior, from Richmond, IN

Favorite NSSLHA event: Crossroads Conference because it is just an overall great experience for undergradute students in that you have the opportunity to help put on the conference for those in the field, attend the lectures that are based on specific interests within the field, and meet and interact with those in attendance, which include both visitors and those from our own department. 

Why she picked SLHS:  I have always wanted to pursue a career that involves working with children. Because of this, I had considered being a teacher, but my mom, who is a teacher herself, encouraged me to look into speech-language pathology since it is a career that still involves working with children but more individually or in small groups. 

Hobbies: dancing, shopping, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. Other clubs that I'm involved in are Higher Ground Dance Company and College Mentors for Kids.  

Favorite class: SLHS 420 (Introduction to Developmental Speech and Language Disorders).

Dream job? speech-language pathologist in New York City that works with bilingual children who speak English and Spanish.

Most important lesson she's learned at college: Manage your time well. Life is usually pretty busy, but it's so important to be able to balance your schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and free time.  

Corresponding Secretary: Rachel Platt

Sophomore, Prospect Heights, IL

Favorite NSSLHA event: The ARC Valentines Day Dance.  Food, dancing, crafts, and making new friends, what's not to love?

Why she picked SLHS:
The summer before freshman year, I had no idea what I wanted to major in. In an attempt to define my ever changing career path, I took one of those quizzes online that tells you what you should do with your life, and it matched me with Speech-Language Pathology.  I did some research and loved how it incorporated my two passions: Psychology and English. I soon decided I wanted to take 115, the introductory course, and the rest is history! 

Hobbies: I am a member of Higher Ground Dance Company. We put on a performance each semester to raise money for the Andrea Rizzo Foundation so that children receiving cancer treatment at Riley Hospital can benefit from Dance Therapy.  I am also involved with Purdue Navigators, a Christian group on campus.  

Favorite class: SLHS class:  Anatomy...Favorite selective course has been ENGL 351 The Analysis of American Literature II. 

Dream job? As of now, I would be ecstatic to work with children with special needs.  But my dream job could be anywhere or anything, as long as I'm making someones life brighter and easier.

Most important thing/lesson you've learned at Purdue:
By far the most important lesson that I've learned here at Purdue is that if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything.  Cheesy, I know, but confidence in yourself makes the biggest difference in the world.

Historian: Jessica Tolle

Junior, from Tipton, IN

Favorite NSSLHA event: ARC Valentine's Dance because it is so much fun. I loved helping make crafts and, of course, dancing with all the ARC members that attended. It is an experience I will never forget.

Why she picked SLHS: I was originally undecided but discovered SLHS was the perfect fit for me. I want to become a speech pathologist because I love working with children, and I really want to be able to help people and make a positive difference in their lives.

Hobbies: Cru, a Christian ministry organization on campus. I volunteer through GLASS at a local preschool and absolutely love it. I love to be outdoors and hanging out with friends.

Favorite class: My favorite class at Purdue is probably ASL. I enjoy learing ASL, and class is always fun.

Dream job? Helping people, preferably children, somewhere.

Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue: Trust God with everything because he has a wonderful plan for you, even if you can't see it yet.

Webmaster: Erin Boyle

Sophomore, from St. John, IN

Favorite NSSLHA events: Crossroads Conference and the Arc Dance. Crossroads is a great way to get your foot in the door and talk to real life SLP's and Audiologists. I had the opportunity to host Dr. Diane Williams who works specifically in a clinical setting with autistic children as well as doing research for autism and cognitive development. I learned a lot of information from her, and it was nice to meet someone who has been so successful in our major. The Arc Dance was a blast for me this year! I was in a program at my high school that put together events like our NSSLHA Arc Dance. The joy and happiness that I experienced at this event is one that I'll never forget and look forward to going to next year! 

Why she picked SLHS: My mom is a nurse, so I've always been drawn to the medical field. In middle school I was very sick, with what doctors would years later discover as Celiac Disease. I went through a really rough time in my life up until the doctors understood what I had and diagnosed me. Before my diagnosis with Celiac Disease the doctors kept misdiagnosing me and I grew to become even sicker. Middle school was simply a blur for me. I often turned to God and asked him why he did this to me. Why out of anybody in the world did I have to get stuck with this sickness?  In the middle of seventh grade I noticed that a girl with autism was in two of my classes, gym and choir. Her name was Emily. I truly believe that Emily was the answer to my prayers. By watching her in school day to day, I realized something. Her whole entire world could be upside down, but yet she never took a smile off her face. She had so much passion, desire, and drive for life. She loved everybody, and even though she couldn’t physically do a lot of the stuff I could do, she would always try. If she failed at a task she wouldn’t get upset. She would smile and shout for joy. She simply loved life, and she loved the life she was given. Emily brought me back to reality, and I look up to her so much for that. Even though I have never had a full conversation with her, she has done so much for my life just by her presence that I feel it is my mission and passion to help children like Emily learn to speak properly to communicate with the world. If her smile alone could light up my world, imagine what her words of wisdom could do.

Hobbies: I love to play volleyball, workout, go shopping, and hang out with family and friends! I'm a Team Supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush, on the Athletic Outreach Committee for Purdue University Dance Marathon, in Adopt a Grandparent, and play intramural sand volleyball. 

Favorite class: Call me crazy, but I loved Anatomy (SLHS 304). It was hard and I had to put a lot of time and work into studying, but it was all worth it, and I learned so much from that class! 

Dream job? Working at downtown Chicago at Lurie's Children's Memorial Hospital as an SLP

Most important lessons she's learned at Purdue: 1. Don't be afraid to be yourself! 2. Get involved! It's enriched my college experience and it's a great opportunity to meet new people. And 3. College is about trying new things. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. 

Spring news

1. Thank you for participating/dancing/smiling/talking/serving at the ARC dance in February! Such a good evening, and thank you to Becca H. for planning the whole event!

2. Events to look forward to:
-Spring Egg Hunt, Saturday March 23 at 10:30 am (be there at 10 am)
-Relay for Life April 6-7
- Skip a Meal at Hotbox (fundraiser for Relay for Life) March 22
-Officer Elections for 2013-2014 year at next meeting (3/19 6:30 pm Grissom 170)

*As always, email me at khingst@purdue.edu if you have any questions about these events!

3. Check out this SLP page on tumblr:

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/speech-language%20pathology

4. Inspiration:

5. Good luck to the seniors hearing back from grad schools! 

Summer!

It is going to be 2 degrees tomorrow morning. So, let's talk about summer. :)

Summer is a great great time to gain experience and make connections that can help you move along in the major and into grad school. Now is the time to begin brainstorming/applying for summer work! If you are a sophomore or junior and thinking more specifically of graduate schools and applications, be strategic! Think of what opportunities would best diversify your experience as an undergraduate.

Here are some ideas/tips for summer:

 Paid summer internships specifically in SLP/AuD are rare. (I've only heard of one person who worked as a SLP intern and got paid.) But, most hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics are willing to let you shadow or work as an unpaid intern over the summer. Meetings SLPs and AuDs can help you gain practical knowledge relating to the field and give you job connections when you graduate.

Summer camps! Camps are great because they are always hiring for the season and you get paid. Special needs camps are especially great.. more challenging, but that shows people you are willing to work hard! Here is a list of special needs camps all over the United States:

http://www.veryspecialcamps.com/


Or, babysit! Work in a lab! Do Pete's Pals! Study abroad! SLP is people-oriented, so anything related to serving others is fantastic.

A final tip: Talk to people in your classes and at NSSLHA meetings! Upperclassmen might have neat opportunities to share. Don't be shy :)

A final final tip: Read about some summer experiences of NSSLHA members here & here

First semester thanks

Hi, friends! Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas break. :)

Thank you all for participating in NSSLHA this first semester. Your smiling faces are the heart & soul of our club. We so much appreciate volunteering for Crossroads, coming to paint potter at All Fired Up, faithfully volunteering with GLASS.

Our callout for spring semester is Tuesday, January 15 @ 6:30 pm in ME 1061. There is much to look forward to this semester. . . ARC dance, Relay for Life, Student-Faculty snack, officer elections. All great ways to be involved in NSSLHA!

P.S. If you like to read, here are the top 15 SLP blogs of 2012. http://erikxraj.com/blog/top-15-speech-language-pathology-blogs-of-2012