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