My second year at The University of Toledo (Go Rockets!) is well underway. I am about a month in, and I have been busy beyond belief. This semester, I am finishing up my minor in Counseling. I am happy to get those classes out of the way, so I can focus solely on my major coursework for Speech-Language Pathology. My program is the best around, and while I may be somewhat biased, it does actually rank high among the nation’s Speech-Language programs. This is going to be another one of those crazy semesters, but in college, I think they all have some element of crazy sprinkled throughout. Many big things will be happening. So my update continues. While I was on vacation earlier this summer, I received an email inviting me to join The Society for Collegiate Leadership and Achievement. This is an honor society that promotes networking and building skills to be successful academically and professionally. I was drawn to join because of its hybrid model. It is web-based and allows for self-governed involvement. Through webinars and self-inventory questionnaires, I am able to interact with others and reflect on my strengths and weaknesses via the online platform. As a commuter, this was appealing. Fast forward to the end of summer: I received another email regarding The Society of Collegiate Leadership and Achievement (SCLA). This time, it was requesting applications to become The University of Toledo’s Founding Chapter President. At the time, I was not too sure about applying, but I knew I wanted to be more involved with The University of Toledo. I filled out the application and went about my days not thinking about it much. With another email, I received notice that I had been chosen to move onto the next round in the application process. The next step was a phone interview. This made me nervous because I have never done one before, but I was eager to present my ideas and thoughts to the interviewer. Three days later, my phone rang, and my heart started pounding. It was one of the executives calling to congratulate me and to let me know that although competitive, the advisory board thought my application stood out. On the inside, I could hardly contain my excitement, but on the outside, I had to stay composed and professional. From that point on, I have been in close contact with my advisor with SCLA, and I have begun the process of forming the chapter at The University of Toledo. The other big thing happening this year is planning for grad school. Yes, I said grad school. It is in my near future, and that is horrifying. I knew going into my program that grad school was a must, but it came much faster than I anticipated. I am eligible for early admission, so that is what I am working towards. The dreaded Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is my first step to getting into grad school. In my spare time away from studying for my classes, I will be gearing up to take the GRE later this fall. Obviously, my first choice for grad school is continuing at The University of Toledo, but I will figure out my options when the time comes. Ultimately, I want to earn my Ph.D., but I am not pushing it now. Let me see how my Master’s goes first. This semester has been going well. I have great professors, and I enjoy my classes. My planner looks like a hot mess, but time is of the essence, and I have to get the most out of my hours. My study habits are quirky at best, but it works for me. I work hard for my grades. Not studying is not an option. Hoping for the best because I paid attention in class is not enough to pull off getting ninety-eight percent on an Anatomy and Physiology for Communication Mechanisms exam. I have my days when regressing back to toddlerhood sounds much better than being an adult, but at the end of the day, I am working towards a goal I have had for so long. All of this work now will allow me to do what I love for the rest of my life. Everything I do adds up to the sum of success. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016
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