Hi everyone! I am trying to complete an admissions essay for graduate school- I have been asked to detail why I want to pursue a career in SLP. Any constructive feedback would be appreciated!!
When I began my career as an educator I felt I had found my niche. I loved my job as a first grade teacher, but most importantly I loved that I was improving my students quality of life and providing them with a better future. I was happy, and thought I would be teaching forever. My thoughts about the ideal career for me changed as year after year I worked with an increasing population of students who struggled academically and/or socially due to their speech and language disabilities.
Working with these students allowed by to learn quite a bit about the frustrations that people experience when they are unable to communicate effectively. In the regular education setting I have worked with nonverbal students, autistic students, students with articulation disorders so severe that their peers cannot understand them, and a large population of children who struggle academically due to speech and language concerns. Although the student's disabilities or difficulties differ the effect on their life were the same; diminished confidence, poor social skills, and a dislike for school. I worked closely with the speech language pathologist in my building and was fascinated by the work she did, but it was not until I met Ishana that I decided a career change was in order.
Ishana entered my first grade classroom with an IEP stating that she was intellectually disabled and non verbal. She had received minimal speech and language services at her previous school, and spent the majority of her day working independently with one of the schools special education teachers. I knew from the first day that I met her that Ishana was capable of much more than people had given her credit for in the past.
She began the school year well below grade level. It was necessary for me to teach Ishana a curriculum that differed drastically from her peers in hopes of seeing her master basic skills such as letter and number identification. Her speech and language was at least five to six years delayed, and we often needed to use picture cards so that she could appropriately communicate her responses. There were so many days that our lessons would end abruptly because the feelings of frustration and helplessness often overwhelmed Ishana and brought her to tears.
In an effort to help Ishana's growth I decided to sit in on a few of her therapy sessions with the speech-language pathologist. I was shocked at what I saw, a new Ishana who was comfortable, confident, and happy to learn. I knew I had to learn these techniques if I wanted to see Ishana succeed in the classroom. I am extremely fortunate that our fantastic therapist, Dianne, was willing to take the time to teach me so much about her craft.
It was just a few months after this that Dianne and I began to see major improvements in Ishana's academics. She was getting more practice with her speech and language thanks to our team approach, and her new found confidence in the classroom was giving her the courage to try new things. It was not Ishana's ability to learn that was limiting her academically, it was her frustration and embarassmemnt due to the difficulties that she experienced while trying to express herself in the same manner as her peers.
I am proud to say that Ishana was retested for her IEP renewal, and not only was she able to complete the verbal test, her IQ jumped drastically and her intellectually disabled title was removed. In all my years of teaching I had never felt so proud about the difference I had made in someones life. It was after this that I decided to enroll in the pre-speech language pathology program at LaSalle University.
I have a strong desire to work as a speech language pathologist, and I have qualities that would be an asset in this field. I am a patient and caring person, personality traits that have drawn me to fields such as education and speech language pathology. My bachelors degree in elementary and special education, as well as my experiences as a teacher, would be extremely beneficial. I am experienced in creating IEPS, developing accommodations and modifications, as well as managing ongoing assessments. I am a reliable, responsible, and hardworking individual, with a strong desire to learn as much as I can and profit from all of my experiences.
It is my goal to earn a masters degree in speech language pathology so that I may go on to become a practicing therapist. I am excited to continue my educational career, and look forward to the opportunity to help improve the lives of people with speech and language disorders. For these reasons, and many more, it would be an honor to be accepted to LaSalle University.
I feel that I have many qualities that will make me an asset in the field of speech-language pathology. experiences as a teacher, with a special education background, would be extremely beneficial if I choose to work in a school setting in the future.
Working with these students allowed
byme to learn
A comma would be nice here --> In the regular education setting
, I have worked with nonverbal students
Although the student's disabilities or difficulties differ the effect on their life were the same
Although the students' disabilities or difficulties differ, the effects on their life were the same. ---Your sentence was violating something called number agreement. I fixed it.
was fascinated by the work she did, but it was not until I met Ishana -- I think the comma should be replaced with a semicolon.
also here, or you can use a colon --> shocked at what I saw, a new Ishana who was comfortable
I am glad that I read your essay. Your anecdote is very convincing, and it justifies the assertions you made about yourself in the second to last paragraph. The only issue I have is that you did not elaborate much on why LaSalle is the right place for you. Your essay mainly deals with why the university should admit you. However, you also need to lay stress on why you think the university is a good match for you.
Good luck, Jenny. I hope you get admitted.
