My situation is a little different than that of the "traditional" student who goes straight through an undergrad major in communication sciences and disorders and proceeds to the master's degree. I already had completed my BA and MA in other fields and had been working for 9 years when I decided I wanted to advance my career. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay in my current field, however, and decided it made sense to explore all the options. First, I sketched out what I wanted my new field to offer: (1) job security; (2) a good salary; (3) opportunity to meet people's felt needs; (4) preferably within the health care field and (5) something without too much math. I looked into Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and SLP careers carefully. I was attracted to the SLP career initially because everyone I knew (okay, only six people at the time, but still, 100% satisfaction is pretty good!) who was an SLP absolutely loved their job. I felt that spoke highly of the field.
Once I had identified that my interest area involved the therapies—PT, OT, and speech—I embarked on a year's journey to decide which field to pursue. I visited university programs, observed many hours of therapy in private clinics, rehab facilities, and skilled nursing facilities, and discussed the field extensively with seven or eight SLPs.
I highly recommend that any student seeking to enter a career embark on a similar journey of discovery. There are many great careers out there—the trick is to find the one that will enable you to fulfill your goals and find the greatest contribution to those you serve. I think it makes sense to first draft a list of what you want out of your career (e.g., to work with kids, to travel) and then seek the careers that fit best. Then, take the time and effort to really look into each career before deciding. After all, a lot of time, energy, and money will go into your education! Making sure the field is right for you just makes good sense. If you don't know any SLPs in your area, meet some! I know students who have picked up the phone book, called a rehab center, and said, "I'm looking into the SLP career. Could I job shadow with you?" And voilà, you'd be surprised how eager happy professionals are to share with you an insider's view of a job they love.
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