By: Madeline Beck, BA, TSHA Graduate Student Representative

When I started out in the field of speech-language pathology just over a year ago, I had a very limited view of what speech-language pathologists (SLPs) do. My previous experience with speech consisted only of what I had seen in my previous job as a general education teacher. Because of my background, I was dead set on returning to the school setting, primarily focused on articulation. Many influential practicum experiences later, I am now much more interested in adult dysphagia, a very different place than I started. I have learned that I am not alone in changing the focus and setting in which I am interested. With such a broad scope of practice, it can be difficult to zero in on what you specifically want to do. I hope that the lessons I have learned from my experience can help you find your passion within the fields and feel confident in your decisions.

First, know that your interests can and will change. Let them! During graduate school, you will have so many opportunities to learn about parts of the fields you never would have anticipated. Trying things out of your comfort zone can have a huge impact on your learning. If I had remained set on pediatrics and articulation, I would have closed myself off to experiences that have dramatically shifted my interests. As part of my coursework, I was required to complete an adult aphasia practicum. Though I was not enthusiastic about it at the beginning, I learned that I love working with adults and ended up entirely changing my focus. Even if you do not enjoy those new experiences, that is also valuable information! It will only serve to solidify what you like and what you want to pursue. Do not remain so set in your original focus that you miss out on informative experiences.

Next, take the time to build a network of people who can inform your decisions to pursue specific parts of the field. The best way to learn what working in acute care is like is to ask someone you know who works in acute care. The same goes for any setting within this field. Finding mentors in a variety of settings helps you not only decide what you want to do but also helps you understand how all these settings work. I have been happily surprised at other clinicians’ willingness to support and mentor students. Some people, depending on the setting, also can have you shadow them so you can get first-hand experience. If you are not sure where to get started in finding mentors, joining the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) is a great place to start. The TSHA Convention is a wonderful opportunity to meet people from many different settings all in one place. At Convention, people are excited to interact with students, so feel free to ask questions and build relationships.

Another way to figure out your focus is to learn exactly how each setting works. This includes knowing which types of disorders are generally treated, what the schedule is like, how long patients stay there, how long sessions are, and how often you work with other professions. This type of information can be very informative for you in making your choices. For example, if building lasting relationships with clients is primarily important to you, an acute care setting, where patients generally stay for relatively short periods of time, might not be the best fit. An outpatient setting might be more appropriate for you. Similarly, if you enjoy having a consistent, reliable schedule, you might prefer private practice over home health. Talk to professors, mentors, and supervisors about what each setting is like to inform your decisions. Taking inventory of your own working style and preferences and matching that up with various settings helps to narrow down where you might like to work.

There are many ways to find your niche in our fields, but it is important to remember that your focus is not set in stone. Many SLPs change their setting or population throughout their career. If you are not able to work in the setting you want at the beginning, you can certainly move when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, you will still be learning valuable information. You will be improving lives no matter what setting you work in. Whether you are interested in pediatrics or adults, dysphagia or voice, schools or hospitals, I wish you the best of luck as you continue to figure out where you want to be!