As a kid, you wonder what your future holds, and once you are an adult, you look back at the life you lived looked like. I am sitting in a prime spot in life to reflect back on the journey so far and look to the future to see where the journey continues. All I have ever known is going to school and checking boxes off my goals list. Now, I am at that point where I am closer to stepping foot in the real world and putting my plans into actions. Growing up, I think I have always been introspective and methodical in figuring out what I can do to contribute even the slightest of contributions to the world. We each have something that makes our light a little brighter and the sparkle in our eye shinier. Whatever that thing is lets us know we have found our calling in life. I somehow knew as an eighth grader that speech-language pathology was what I needed to do for the rest of my life, and nine years later, I am finding myself so close to becoming an SLP. I still get asked fairly often what an SLP is or what they do, and I still do not have a concise answer that adequately encompasses everything one may choose to hone into as an SLP. I mean, I know what we do and have a better grasp on the profession than I did when I first decided on it, but now that I know of the vastness of the range of our scope, it is impossible to give someone a quick snapshot. And, because of the rich diversity in my future profession, that makes me love it even more. The excitement is hard to contain when you get any group of SLPs together and have the chance to talk about all of the nerdy things we talk about, but it magnifies when these conversations take place at ASHA. It is like the ultimate family reunion of long-lost relatives you never knew about. There is an instant connection. I think what I enjoy the most is hearing what made other people decide speech-language pathology was for them. We all have unique reasons for choosing this career. But, beyond thinking of it as a career, it means so much more than that. SLPs are some of the most compassionate as well as hard-working people I have ever met. There is no dedication like spending countless hours working on therapy tools even if it means spending the better portion of a night laminating and cutting out what seems like millions of pieces. The level of concern shown towards families who are struggling to adapt to a new normal and relearning how to best communicate after a diagnosis is next to sainthood. The dedication of advocating for clients, families, and the profession as a whole is what keeps us going. At the end of the day, we are all trying to make the world a better place. We may not be superheroes in the traditional sense, but not every hero wears a cape. Some heroes find themselves forming goals, keeping data, and writing IEPs. Other heroes are those who get to witness a child saying their first words after countless tears shed, ensure safe swallowing practices for a stroke patient, and teach a person how to use an AAC device to ensure their voice is heard. My heart beats a little faster knowing this is my future. I owe it to my younger self for understanding enough to choose such an inspiring career, but more importantly for revealing my purpose. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2018
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