Speech-Language Pathology: Personal Statement

I have had a multitude of experiences that led me to pursue a graduate studies degree in speech-language pathology. One of the most profound experiences thus far is my time spent volunteering for a research study examining the effects of person-centered care with individuals diagnosed with Dementia. Throughout this study I worked toward providing care that promotes independence, communication, and better quality of life by providing them with opportunities to participate in meaningful activities or roles. I assisted these patients with strategies they can use to facilitate memory and optimize communication skills, and developed strong connections with many of them along the way. I entered this research project with the intent to make a
I have volunteered in an educational setting with bilingual, low socioeconomic status children in Omaha, Nebraska to give children opportunities to learn outside the classroom, volunteered in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility with persons diagnosed with Dementia, an assisted living facility supporting communication for a woman with cognitive, auditory, and visual deficits, and have had the personal experience of a neighbor and close friend who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Having been responsible for individual’s quality of care for an assortment of different populations gives me the confidence to take on new clients or patients. In addition, I believe that becoming involved in these opportunities, as well as being a full-time student have facilitated my ability to be well-organized and promoted my ability to sufficiently manage my time when I have been faced with an abundance of extracurricular activities. These skills will help me prosper in graduate
I enjoy working with newborns to working with the elderly on many different diagnoses such as cognitive, speech, language, voice, swallowing, and sensory problems. Wayne State University’s program gives me the opportunity to explore these interests because of their connections with local hospitals, their on-campus clinic and other diverse clinical placements they offer their students. I believe this is what sets them apart from other graduate programs, and will enable me to become best prepared for a career in speech language pathology. In addition, because of the positive experiences I have had in research studies thus far, I am interested in Wayne State University because I would have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside outstanding leaders in research in the communication disorders and sciences