Looking Back: Fall '12

I survived my first semester as an speech-language pathology graduate student!!  There were a few moments around finals that I wasn't so sure I was going to make it, but I did.  :)

Looking back on my first semester in SLP grad school, I thought I would focus on all the positives and here are all the good things that have come out of going to Eastern Michigan University so far:

-My clinical methods class: I learned so much in that class.  The prof. had many relevant personal examples about working with various clients in different settings.  He really explained things well and helped us analyze our mistakes.  He also gave us many opportunities for "hands on" practice with case studies, videos, and developing goals in small groups collaboratively as well as working individually on our own.  My favorite class this semester and it has made me

Gearing up for Finals...

Remember to breathe...

Breathe in... breathe out...

Deep breaths... deep breaths... 

Oh crap!  I'm hyperventilating!

source

Zoom Zoom.

Right now I feel like I am sprinting for the finish line!

This semester hasn't been too hectic overall and much less busy than I expected grad school to be... that is, until now.  Final papers, assignments, and projects are coming due, I have a big group presentation in my research class this week, and it's that time to start buckling down, get notes organized and study for final exams.  Just gotta make it to December 17th after 3pm.

It's funny, though I'm really ready for this semester to be over, I also can't wait to get into next semester and start learning (mostly) new information.

I'ma gonna keep zooming forward.  :)



   

The end is in sight!

The end of my first semester in grad school is in sight!  There's lots to do between now and my last final, but it's good to be almost finished.  A lot of this semester has felt like review, which means that Utah State got me off to a good solid start. 

   

There have been a few unexpected surprises this semester, the biggest being a much longer time in grad school than expected (7 semesters vs the typical 5 semesters of most programs).  The other unexpected surprise is a very unorganized professor (who teaches two of my classes this semester) and her very specifically-vague directions with a dash of inconsistent grading.  Yes, specifically-vague... and sometimes the inconsistent grading was in my favor and other times it was not.  I definitely have higher expectations for grad school professors... but, yeah... moving on.

Next semester should have a bit more new information and I will also one step closer to getting clinic hours.  I can't wait to get into clinic!

Interests Part I

During class last week, one of my professors told us that SLPs cannot just be generalists and that SLPs need to choose a specialty/specific interests in our field.  It would be almost impossible to know everything there is to know in our field AND be proficient in it all as well.  I’m at the start of my grad school program and I thought it would be interesting to put down what I am interested in at this point in time.

Right now I am definitely leaning more towards the medical side of SLP and more specifically:

-Speech and language impairments secondary to medical conditions such as TBI (traumatic brain injury), stroke, cancer (and not just oral/laryngeal/brain… other cancers such as breast cancer, etc. and the effects of chemotherapy and radiology on memory and word retrieval), etc.

-AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).  While shadowing for my 25 hours in my post-bacc I observed a few different AAC systems such as PECS, a handmade eye gaze board, and sign.  There are so many different AAC systems to learn about, from the seemingly simple to the highly technological.  

I really can’t wait to get into classes and learn more about all of the above.  It will be interesting to see how much my interests change over the course of my graduate education or if my current interests do not change at all.    

Interests Part II in a semester or two!