I finished college with a degree in Interpersonal Communications with no thought of the future besides getting married and raising a family. But it seems the universe had other ideas.
Shortly after bringing my third child into the world, the head of the district’s speech therapy department called and asked if I would consider becoming a long-term substitute for the speech therapist I had been subbing for. They couldn’t find a certified therapist so I was their only option.
I couldn’t provide therapy since I wasn’t qualified, so I started working on things I learned from my degree in Interpersonal Communication. Little did I know that the activities were called “Social Language” in the Speech Therapy world!
I soon discovered I LOVED it! When the school year ended, I decided I wanted to go back to school to become an SLP!
After earning my Master’s Degree, I began working with preschoolers in the Salt Lake City School District. When they told me I would be working in a classroom with a special education teacher, I knew I was out of my league!
It was frustrating and daunting at first. I was on the edge and stressed all the time. It was a tough way to start a career. I had such high hopes when I began graduate school. I had worked so hard and what did it get me? I felt like I was swimming with the sharks with no boat in sight.
Everything was trial and error, but I gradually got my feet under me. I felt so relieved as I figured out what type of goals to write and discovered several ways to take data. I developed a routine that allowed me to work with the class as a whole, while also allowing me to see students individually when needed.
Eventually, I was actually enjoying my job! Over the years I worked in all kinds of classrooms, from self-contained to inclusive. I developed a solid foundation that allowed for flexibility as I worked with a variety of teachers and students over the years. I was on my way!