Ciera Hiipakka, Undergraduate Student

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Expected Graduation - May 2009

Major - Speech-Language Pathology
Minors - Child and Family Studies and Psychology

I left home 2 days after my high school graduation ceremony in May of 2004. I packed up my belongings and headed to the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt, Wisconsin. It was a very quick change that was a little scary. It was time for me to grow up and learn how to take care of myself. For the entire summer, I worked as a cabin counselor for children with cognitive disabilities, who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, or diabetic. I fell in love with children after only one summer of working at camp. I realized that I have a huge passion to help others with disabilities.

Sadly, the summer came to an end, and it was time for yet another change, another move. I was off to the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse to start my college career with a major in radiation therapy. I honestly feel I came into college with this major because I had no idea what other major was of interest to me. I was confused. I didn't know who I was or what my life goals were. Radiation therapy seemed unique, and I felt it made a decent salary. I knew I would be helping people, like I had always wanted to, and the job outlook was great. My whole freshman year, I was talking myself into liking this major. I was trying to convince myself that radiation therapy was meant for me; I kept telling myself that I would be truly happy with this career.

After doing several hours of job shadowing and then yet another summer as a cabin counselor at the Wisconsin Lions Camp, I was certain that radiation therapy was not my passion. My passion was helping and working with children, especially deaf and cognitively disabled children. I believe I saw only one child during all the hours I job shadowed radiation therapists. I learned that I enjoyed working with children and building relationships with them. I didn't want the surface relationships that you have with patients in radiation therapy. That's why I chose to transfer to the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and pursue a career in speech-language pathology.