Somehow I realized I am two years into undergrad but I don’t think I have ever done a post specifically saying what major I am! I am in the Speech Pathology and Audiology program at my school and I am planning on becoming a Speech Pathologist! And now I bet that most of you are quietly wondering what in the world that means. Don’t worry, I had no idea a few years ago either! Many people in my program have wanted to do this since they were born, but I only decided on it after I pretty much said no to every other major out there.
SO WHAT IS A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST?
This image pretty much covers the basics and gives you a better idea of what an SLP is!
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN SLP?
Like I mentioned above, I only decided on it because I didn’t want to do anything else. I really enjoy nannying and working with kids, but I just knew I was not cut out to be a teacher and deal with the same kids all day every day. When my parents brought up being an SLP, I literally had no idea what it was. But then senior year I ended up shadowing a few in settings around me, and it was something that I could see myself doing. I also love that there are so many options for SLPs, such as working in a school, hospital, or clinic setting. Someone who graduated from my school years ago came back to speak to our program this past spring, and one thing she said really resonated with me. She said that she never has been bored in her career, and I don’t think that is something that many people can say! To me, that was a major thing when picking a major. I didn’t want to end up doing an office job that I hated and felt stuck in. Also I have already gotten so many cool opportunities from being in this program! One example was that I was able to spend the month of January in Jamaica learning about programs that have been set up for deaf people there.
DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL?
I get this questions so often from people, and the short answer is yes. Basically, you have to get a master’s degree before you can practice as an SLP. At first this almost turned me away from this major, because 6 years of school sounded long and expensive. But, I was able to find a school that has a 5 year program, so long story short I only have a little over a year beyond normal undergrad. Which means I am already almost halfway through! Plus, the last year or two is almost all clinical anyways, and the classes you are taking are interesting ones that pertain to your major.
HOW DOES BLOGGING FIT IN WITH THIS?
Many people assume that all bloggers are going into marketing or communications, and it is weird that they could have a major that doesn’t really relate at all. But my blog is a great creative outlet for me when I am tired of studying anatomy and need a break from all things school related. It also does sort of fit in, since I have learned how to communicate better with others through this blog, and I will be communicating with clients and families in the future!
Overall, I have realized that very few bloggers are majoring in speech pathology, so I wanted to use my blog to share with others about my amazing major! If you are still trying to pick a major, I highly recommend looking into it. Feel free to contact me by email if you have any questions! I also would love to hear if any of my readers are also majoring in speech pathology. Comment below if you are, or if you are in college let me know what major you are! I love hearing about other peoples majors and passions.
xo, Scarlett