My MentorMy job shadow was with Jillian Rivaldi, a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at Pomerado Elementary.
ExpectationsBefore my career day, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had no idea what an SLP did, and I didn't know if I would even be interested in it. I could only guess at what I would get to observe. It's always a little worrying to job shadow someone in a healthcare-related field, because you never know what you'll actually be allowed to see due to confidentiality. However, I was still excited to learn about and observe a new career option.
|
My Interview
What in your educational background most prepared you for this job?
I learned that she has two degrees in communicative disorders, a BA & MA. Most of her training was on the job, but she found that her college's off-campus placement program was especially helpful in preparing her for her career.
What specific skill training helped you prepare for this job?
She told me that creativity was one of the most important skills she uses everyday, since every student she works with has different needs. She also said that it was especially helpful to be outgoing, organized, and to have a passion for the field.
How do you interact with other people during your work?
I learned that while working with other people, she says that it's best to be very flexible and open to change, and to always be collaborating. Also, she finds it helpful to be able to be both professional with adults and fun with the kids.
To what extent do you find your work fulfilling and why?
She loves that she gets to see the progress her students make over time, and that she gets to be the one who gives them the 'gift of communication.' She also mentioned that the field of speech therapy is always growing and changing, and so it never gets boring to her.
What are the most important rules and practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
I discovered that since she deals with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), she has to be extremely thorough and always complete her job fully. Another very important aspect is to be compassionate with families, since she sometimes has to convey challenging news.
Was this a typical work day? If not, what is?
It was mainly a regular day for her, however the students might have been a little more distracted than usual for a few reasons: it was Friday, close to the end of the school year, and there was a new person in the room.
What is your favorite part of the job?
She told me that her favorite part of her job is her work environment, and her coworkers. I also learned that this is her 11th year as an SLP at Pomerado Elementary.
I learned that she has two degrees in communicative disorders, a BA & MA. Most of her training was on the job, but she found that her college's off-campus placement program was especially helpful in preparing her for her career.
What specific skill training helped you prepare for this job?
She told me that creativity was one of the most important skills she uses everyday, since every student she works with has different needs. She also said that it was especially helpful to be outgoing, organized, and to have a passion for the field.
How do you interact with other people during your work?
I learned that while working with other people, she says that it's best to be very flexible and open to change, and to always be collaborating. Also, she finds it helpful to be able to be both professional with adults and fun with the kids.
To what extent do you find your work fulfilling and why?
She loves that she gets to see the progress her students make over time, and that she gets to be the one who gives them the 'gift of communication.' She also mentioned that the field of speech therapy is always growing and changing, and so it never gets boring to her.
What are the most important rules and practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
I discovered that since she deals with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), she has to be extremely thorough and always complete her job fully. Another very important aspect is to be compassionate with families, since she sometimes has to convey challenging news.
Was this a typical work day? If not, what is?
It was mainly a regular day for her, however the students might have been a little more distracted than usual for a few reasons: it was Friday, close to the end of the school year, and there was a new person in the room.
What is your favorite part of the job?
She told me that her favorite part of her job is her work environment, and her coworkers. I also learned that this is her 11th year as an SLP at Pomerado Elementary.
Reflection
Overall, I really enjoyed my career day. It seemed like a challenging career, but very rewarding and interesting. I learned that there are a couple different aspects of speech therapy- helping kids to actually pronounce sounds and words, and helping kids communicate. For example, I observed my mentor work with a student to say words containing "g" sounds, and then also help another student form sentences containing four words. I've also learned that there are a couple different versions of the career; my mentor works in an elementary school, but there are also speech therapists that work in hospitals, potentially with stroke or dementia patients who may need to regain the ability to speak. I'm definitely interested in speech therapy now as a possible career, but I still want to research it a little more, since it is such a complex field.
|