What do you remember about the SLP program?

As an undergraduate ('94) I remember that the Speech Path program classes were tough.  I remember that doing therapy in the clinic was a big deal and that the two-way mirror made me a bit nervous.  I remember spending hours in the library looking up articles and coming up with dimes to make my copies.  (That was back in the day before internet was readily available!)  As a graduate student in the program ('96), I remember long, sleepless nights reading, preparing and learning.  I remember the close friendships with my peers who seemed to be the only people on earth who knew what I was going through.  I also remember the feeling that it would never end.

What was your favorite memory of TCU?

One of the times that I always think back on and chuckle was the last semester of graduate school when our class was consumed with studying for oral exams.  We spent hours in the small classroom quizzing each other after hours. One day someone stuck a picture of Tom Cruise over the face of the man who's picture always hung on the wall.  It was pretty funny to watch the professors' reactions over the next few days as they noticed during their lectures.  Good times.

Where you are currently working/what you are doing?

Currently I work for Fort Worth ISD on a part-time basis as a bilingual speech/language pathologist.  Primarily, I conduct assessments and consult with other speech/language pathologists on cases involving students who are bilingual or who are in the process
of acquiring English as their second language.  I also work at Cook Children's Medical Center part-time as a bilingual speech/language pathologist.  There I evaluate and provide therapy to Spanish-speaking and bilingual children who present with a variety of communication disorders.  Finally, I work for Head Start of Tarrant County as a staff trainer.  There I provide classes to childcare workers as they work toward their Associates Degrees.  The classes I teach include "Speech, Language Development and the Head Start Child," "The Bilingual Head Start Child," "Poverty and its Impact on Language Learning," "Culture and Its Impact on Learning," "Early Literacy Development" and "Supporting ESL Students in the Head Start Classroom."  I have taught various courses at TSHA Conventions including, "Speech/Language Pathology for the Monolingual SLP."  I've also been privileged to serve on TSHA's Multicultural Task Force.

What is your favorite thing about what you do?

There is never a dull moment in speech/language pathology.  I get to experience the spectrum of communication disorders with a variety of populations in various settings.  These experiences ensure that I continue to learn as I contribute.  It is extremely rewarding to impact the lives of children and their families and to love every minute of it.

I always knew that I wanted to work with children and that I wanted to utilize my Spanish-speaking skills at a professional level.  I grew up in a family of educators and before heading off to college I was introduced to the field of speech/language pathology.  Instantly I knew that the profession was for me and that TCU was the place to be.  It has always been my calling to work with/for those who are non-mainstream and who deserve high-quality services.  TCU's undergraduate and bilingual-emphasis graduate programs prepared me to enter the field with competence and with a continued desire to learn, grow and give.