Speech Language Pathologist Personal Statement

As a Speech-Language-Hearing major, I have had a combination of experiences that have prepared me to enter West Chester University’s graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I have always known that I wanted to be part of a profession that serves the public. My mother is a social worker and my father is a public health administrator, which means serving others is in my blood. Growing up watching my parents’ commitment to the well-being of others inspired this commitment in me. I chose this major and career path based on my personal values and family background. These experiences as an undergraduate solidified my desire to continue my education and become a Speech Language Pathologist.
As a volunteer in Dr. Jamie Reilly’s Memory, Concepts, and Cognition Laboratory, I learned the importance of research and its application in clinical practice. I conducted experiments using eye tracking and used acoustic analysis to evaluate participant responses. There were many steep learning curves, and these challenges motivated me to become a proficient consumer of the current research and therapy techniques in the field.
I also was a mentor in a service-learning project, Finding the Words, which involved working with a client with acquired aphasia in writing a personal book …show more content…
An intensive Latin American studies semester and three week immersion program in Costa Rica strengthened my knowledge of both Spanish language and Latin American culture. A course in medical Spanish prepared me for communicating in medical settings and understanding how linguistic and cultural differences can be disadvantages in America’s healthcare system. Surprisingly, my major and minor coursework connected in ways I did not expect. As a Speech Pathologist, being an advocate for clients and being respectful of a client’s individual differences is a necessary