National Speech Language Pathologist Day - Why I Became an SLP

When I was growing up, I always thought I'd be a teacher. I used to play "classroom" with my dolls and stuffed animals and even gave them homework. But when the time came for picking a major in college, I found my heart wasn't in being a teacher any longer.

In college, while working as a server in a retirement community dining room, I found a rewarding connection with the seniors who lived there. When one of the residents suffered a stroke and became unable to speak, she began speech therapy. After several months, I saw her amazing improvement and decided to learn more about speech therapy.

I discovered that being a speech language pathologist is an excellent combination of teaching and medical care and knew it was a great fit for me. Through my nearly 8 years as an SLP, I have been fortunate to work with caring and knowledgeable therapists who have taught and supported me. Creating a bond with patients and their families is the highlight of my work as a speech language pathologist.