July 2012 - Southeast Michigan Mensa

M-Pathy Page 14
By Claire Carpenter
Winner of the Grosswirth-Salny $500 Scholarship
During my freshman year of college, I took my first linguistics course. In the course, I was introduced
to a new world of language in which sounds, words, and sentences are units to be broken down, strung
together, and analyzed in every way imaginable. I was in awe of the beauty and complexity of
language, something that most of us take for granted, but that is so integral to the human experience.
Later, I learned of speech-language pathology as a practical means of turning my love of linguistics into
a career, so I declared Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) as my major and never looked
back.
Through my studies, I have learned that speech-language pathology is a quickly growing profession
and also wonderfully diverse. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work in a variety of settings,
including everything from children with difficulties producing the /t/ sound, to stroke patients who have
lost their agility to effectively communicate. Every setting is unique and captivating. Eventually, I will
have to narrow my focus to a specific client population and work setting, but for now I am content
gathering as much knowledge as possible about the different branches of speech and language
services so that I can eventually find the niche that is most suitable for me. Therefore, my current goal
is to prepare myself for success in a highly ranked graduate program. Also, I hope to someday open a
private clinic to provide low-cost services to clients who need speech and language therapy but lack
the resources to receive it. I believe that every person deserves access to needed services in order to
maximize communication abilities. If clients have no other options, I would be honored to provide them
with their right to services, regardless of insurance policies, socioeconomic status, or other financial
considerations.
In order to achieve my goals, I have adopted many success-driven strategies. First, beyond majoring
in CSD, I am a member of the Honors College with minors in Spanish and linguistics and a
specialization in health promotion. My extra degrees have expanded my knowledge of fields related to
CSD and they will make me more marketable to graduate schools and future employers. I am also a
research assistant in the MSU Speech Lab and an active member of the National Student Speech
Language and Hearing Association. Being a member of those profession-focused groups allows me to
increase my career-based knowledge and skills, volunteer, and become more involved in CSD
research.
Additionally, as the world continues to globalize, it is increasingly important for SLPs to understand the
multicultural aspects of communication. In order to prepare myself for the global demands of the
modern world, I have been involved in several multicultural and international experiences including:
serving as co-chairperson of La Organizacion de Logopedia y Audiologia (a student group that
promotes multicultural awareness in the field of CSD), tutoring international teaching assistants through
the Technology Enhanced Accent Modification program, and participating in the Communications
Disorders United Kingdom study abroad trip. While I still have much to learn and experience, I believe
that my involvement in research, clubs, and cultural experiences will allow me to broaden my horizon,
become more well-rounded, and increase my success in the future. Not to mention, I am having the
time of my life in the process!