SLP 101

I feel really stuck.

I’ll be graduating with a pretty much useless Bachelor’s in Linguistics, with a minor in Psychology, next week. My student loans are at about $25,000, and I gross less than that. Not horrifically less, but less. I know over the next 5-10 years I could get raises, use tax refunds toward repayment, get an additional or better paying job, and obviously work more than 32 hours a week. I’ll have additional money when my car is paid off, and when we’re not putting money away for a wedding. If I stopped now, between myself and my fiance we would be fine, comfortable, even, paying back the loans in less than 10 years.

But, the thing is, I want to keep learning and become a Speech Language Pathologist.

However, this involves a year of post-bachelor courses (racking my student loan debt up, potentially to $35,000). I have to count on getting into a graduate program after that. If I don’t, then I’m in the same spot with $10,000 more in debt. If I do, then my debt goes up to $60,000. I’m positive that an entry-level salary would gross less than that. Maybe even half that.

So, I’m essentially in the same boat, but with more risks. What if I don’t get into graduate school? What if I can’t find a job? What if I can’t find a job in the same state as my significant other? Those kinds of risks.

It doesn’t feel fair that an education costs that much. I’m doing what I can to get ahead and contribute to society, and it’s not working out. My current job required no education or certification. Are you to tell me that I would have been better off going no farther than high school?!

I don’t know what to do at this point. I know what I want to do, but it feels more like a risky investment game than a fucking education.

I have artistic ability, and hypothetically could supplement my income with that. But I feel like that talent is wasted on me - I’m rarely inspired or motivated. I’d usually rather sit around and watch Netflix or drink with friends. Plus, using art for income is so shaky. Being a 35-year-old receptionist/illustrator, or 35-year-old tattoo artist does not sound like something I would be proud of. No offense to those who fit that mold.

I want to learn more, and I want to be a medical professional. But I HATE being in any kind of debt, and feel sick when I think of half of my income going to repayments for 10+ years.

I need someone to tell me that it’ll be okay and I should go for it, because all I’m feeling right now is that it will bring financial ruin >.<

Hey all! I haven’t updated in a while. I haven’t felt very SLP oriented, lately. A lot of my focus has been on graduating, moving, summer plans, and my 2013 wedding.

Lately, all I’ve been doing is volunteering for a couple of hours each week at a local nursing home’s memory care unit. This unit houses seniors with dementia, etc. and my activities with them pertain to trying to keep their wheels turning. We do games, discussion groups, etc. I absolutely love their stories, and their humor.

Given that I’m a pretty slow-paced, laid back person, I think I’d do best with geriatric SLP work. Right now, I cannot see myself dealing with energetic children. I don’t want to say that I don’t like kids (their stories and humor are great too!), but I really enjoy working with the elderly. From a pragmatic standpoint, the geriatric segment of the SLP field should have good opportunities in the future. So, I think that’s what my focus will be while thinking about getting into grad school. Later, I may be announcing something exciting pertaining to that!

I know that I need experience with other populations as well. I’m working on getting in elsewhere to volunteer after I graduate on April 29th.

Aside from that, I’ve been a lame student. I know grad school will be a huge commitment - as well as the career thereafter- and I’ve been in college for 6 years now. I want to take a breather! Focusing on my life and not stressing about school (I’m only in two classes right now) feels pretty good. I’ve still been a bit of a nerd, though. Right now I’m reading The Alphabet vs. The Goddess.

The autism volunteer experience orientation was this morning. I was nervous going into this hour-and-a-half ordeal, given that I had absolutely no idea what it would entail. In the org’s e-mail response to me, they basically said that they’re always in need of volunteers, and to show up.

I entered an off-campus university building, walking in with many other girls my age. After I followed the signs, entered the designated room, collected the various forms and handouts, and regretfully passed by the breakfast pastries, I estimated that there were over thirty of us.

Once Dr. Presenter entered the room and gave a greeting, she instructed us to briefly introduce ourselves by name and major/minor. I was shocked that there were no communication disorders undergrads. There were a lot of OT undergrads, a handful of social worker undergrads, a dash of psych undergrads, and a pinch of random undergrads - hotel and restaurant management, entrepreneurship, etc. There is the possibility that there were other potential SLPs in the room, given that I was the only one who spoke up about my graduate school plans (felt as though I had to explain my linguistics major), but I honestly don’t think so. Which is awesome, because there are two SLPs that work at the center.

THEY’RE MINE!!! ALL MINE!!!

Anyway. The hour-and-a-half orientation consisted of an “Autism 101” power point presentation and a tour of the facility. I felt as though I didn’t learn much. Not that it wasn’t informative; there was a lot of information, but it was stuff I already knew from my ABA textbooks and the autism documentaries I’ve watched. What did make me feel a little out of place is that many of the others there had relatives with autism; I do not. However, each person with autism is different, just as each neurotypical person is different. Having experience with one autistic individual is not going to prepare you for the type of interaction required for another.

I love the center’s mindset, which is about understanding, teaching, and accommodating, not “fixing” or “training”. They see autism as a different culture and appreciate the neurodiversity of the individuals, but at the same time realize the need for assistance in some cases. They have various therapy rooms, a huge gym, tutoring rooms, a waiting room (which they expressed a need to remodel and fill with entertainment; as they said: “Waiting is the enemy”), and even a haircut room.

After the orientation, I submitted my application and e-mailed the volunteer coordinator to follow up. I checked that I’d be interested in working with the kids, doing in-office stuff, or helping with social media. In my e-mail, I mentioned exactly why I was interested in working with those with autism, and also stated that I’d like to observe or assist with SLP therapy sessions if possible.

Not sure if or where I’ll be placed. I’ll be interested to see…

Today was awesome, and I feel really good about the center!

What an interesting first day! I admit, I did not want to get out of bed this morning. I was a pissypants while I was getting ready. Still, I arrived ten minutes early at 9:20am (hair and makeup done, which - during this time of the year - is unheard of for me), signed in, grabbed my name tag, and hopped on an elevator. I was on my way to the memory care unit of a local geriatric rehabilitation center.

When the doors to the third floor opened, I was a little startled. I walked directly into an open area with scattered tables and chairs, and it was full of wheelchair-bound elderly folk. A nurse’s station or reception area was nowhere in sight. There were, at most, two seemingly unenthused nurses sitting around.

I walked over to the food station, and asked the woman working there if she knew where the activities coordinator was. She did not, but was very sweet and helpful, and looked for her on several occasions.

Long story short, I was sitting in the piano lounge area for a half an hour waiting for the activities coordinator, helping a resident take off her sweater and holding her glasses. She folded her sweater up in her lap and was using it as a pillow. I was on the verge of doing the same with my jacket.

Finally, the activities coordinator arrived. She is a cute, tiny, peppy woman with a fun short haircut and braces. I am not cute or peppy, and I had difficulties with the WIDE EYE CONTACT. She was very nice and patient with me while showing me the ropes, which included a news article discussion pow-wow and wheeling residents in for worship service afterward. From my limited experience, the elderly come in three molds: the first is willing and able to chat with you, often happy to have the company. The second couldn’t give a damn whether you’re there or not, and would probably prefer that you weren’t. Often grumpy, or aloof. The third is on a different planet… non responsive or incoherent. I did say my experience was limited, right? All three “molds” were seated near me within the discussion group. I tried to get a slightly grumpy and very uninterested (tired?) Don* to warm up to me by asking him about the contents of the pictures he was looking at.

Me: “Do you like to cook, Don*?”
(stern, or maybe confused, look from Don*)
(blank look back from me, as I’m realizing that’s probably a stupid question to ask a wheelchair-bound geriatric rehabilitation resident)
Don*: “I like to eat.”
Me: “I do, too.”
Don*: (checking me over) “I can eat more than you.”
Me: “I don’t know about that, Don*. You’d be surprised at how much I can put away (patting my gut).”

He let out big laughs, and I felt pretty accomplished. We agreed to have an eating contest in the indefinite future.

I was then informed of my duties by the activities coordinator. From 9:30-10:30, I will be pairing the residents into discussion groups based upon cognitive abilities, and then leading one of the groups. Basically, we will be printing off news articles, reading them (or guiding one of the residents to read it - though, as one resident duly pointed out to the activities coordinator: “This text is too small!”), and encouraging discussion. After this, I am to help the coordinator wheel twenty or so residents in to the main area, move around tables and chairs, and prepare for the chaplain’s service by handing out printed-off hymns, etc.

A wonderful surprise in all of this is that an SLP joined us for the discussion group. She seemed excited that I was looking to become an SLP, and invited me into her therapy group once I had finished helping the activities coordinator prepare for the worship hour.

I can’t say for certain, but observing/participating in the SLP’s therapy group may be a regular part of my volunteer hours. Geeked!

There are stories to tell from my first day, but this post is already long so I’ll stick to one that melted my heart:

I wheeled a resident back to her room after the therapy session. She said, “Oh, there’s a chair right there… you can just go ahead and pull that up next to me, and we’ll watch TV!” I told her I would love to, but that I had a work shift beginning soon. Both true statements. She did manage to get me to sit with her for 10 minutes, while she told me stories. I found out she was from Boston (marvelous vowels) and that her mother came over to the United States from Ireland when she was fourteen years old, with nothing but a small bag.

It was a great first day, and there were of course sad events. One of the residents was in pain and was crying out before being given painkillers. Another resident, just before the worship hour, started crying and screaming for help, saying that she wasn’t supposed to be there, that she had to get back to her room immediately. But that was all, and the activities coordinator did not fail to mention that I had caught everyone on a good day.

I am officially scheduled to volunteer Mondays from 9:30-11:30 at a local nursing home! Specifically, I will be getting patients situated for the socialization and worship hours. I really enjoyed interacting with the residents during my shadowing experience, and hope that this will be a great experience also. :)