Probably the most vital aspect of my application to your distinguished SLP Program at XXXX University (UXX) is that I already have over two years of professional experience as an SLPA. From August 2013 through September 2015, I worked at a private clinic called XXX with students diagnosed with moderate to severe Autism, ranging in age from infants to 21 years of age. My current position as an SLPA also makes me most enthused about the prospect of graduate studies. Working at a medically based private practice and transitioning from one clinic to another has helped me become more adaptable, heightened my appreciation for diversity, and provided me with the invaluable opportunity of getting to know numerous professionals in my field.
I graduated from XXXX University, Sacramento, with a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology in May 2013. I chose this major because of my desire to serve my community and excel in this area. Throughout my childhood, I was heavily involved in community outreach programs through my local church, which brought me enormous joy and satisfaction, and this has helped to prepare me to take on leadership roles in SLP in the future as an organizer, mentor, tutor, in my church and community, as well as neighboring churches and communities.
I fell in love with what I chose to do as an undergraduate student, giving my all as a behavioral tutor for children diagnosed with Autism, working closely with a wide variety of developmentally delayed children and their families. Every day I saw families suffer and struggle, break down, and lose hope. Coming from a military family with a professional ethic of discipline, I excelled every day because helping these families cope was something that I came to see as my duty, not unlike the patriotic calling felt by other family members. My work is essential to these families, and their need is very significant; I give my 120% every day to help them make progress towards living every day and fulfilling life.
For the past 2 ½ years since my graduation, I have grown enormously personally and professionally, working as an SLPA, attending conferences, keeping in touch with professors, volunteering with the elderly in my community, and almost always reading the current literature in our field before I go to sleep at night. I work with many minorities and underprivileged families and do extensive research to familiarize myself with the characteristics of their unique struggles. This is especially important since I also provide home training and education.
I look forward to a long lifetime of empowering Autistic and other developmentally challenged children and their families, providing them with the highest possible quality of care. I would love to someday open my private practice for children with significant delays in communication, and I look forward to many decades of interdisciplinary teamwork with social workers, OT professionals, psychologists, etc.
I love the diversity I find in SLP and the richness of serving members of many distinct communities and walks of life. I also look forward to missionary service in SLP in the future, spending extended periods back in my native Philippines helping to train SLP professionals. As a Filipino woman, I feel called to this service on profoundly spiritual levels, even though I have spent my entire life in the USA.
I am incredibly excited and already gearing up for all 4 of your specialized units, and I am especially hungry for long hours in the laboratory. Very passionate about multilingualism and diversity issues, I pay close attention to how they frequently play critical roles in SLP to provide the most effective therapy. I am already daydreaming about learning as much as possible about stroke and Aphasia, early intervention therapy, and catering to the unique needs of at-risk communities. Wholeheartedly dedicated to lifelong learning in Autism and the ASD population, I am provided with a great sense that my work is the noblest cause, particularly given how these populations have been increasing.
Disciplined and very organized, I continuously learn through my service to my clients, whom I dearly love. I never want to stop learning, thinking, and creating because I find boundless joy in my work. Perennially cheerful and always resilient, if given a chance to receive an education on the cutting-edge at UXX, I will go that extra mile to excel and make full use of every tool and opportunity at my disposal. I have worked with various adults with AAC devices to program and teach the proper use of these communication devices. I love that UX supports AAC devices and tirelessly perfects their research and work in this area. It would be such an honor for me to have the privilege of joining your academic community in SLP at UXX and I thank you for considering my application to your program.
Masters SLP Speech-Language Personal Purpose Filipino