May 2019 commencement spotlights: Communication Sciences and Disorders

01 May 2019     By Kelcey Buck

Bekah Hutchinson

Potter, Nebraska  |  Communication Sciences and Disorders, Minors in Education and Psychology

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
The first time I had visited Lincoln and the university itself was for Cornhusker Girls State, the summer before my senior year of high school. I knew the moment I stepped foot onto campus that I wanted to go here. That week spent tromping around on campus only solidified my desire to come to college here. At some point later in the year I had narrowed down my interests to teaching, and speech-language pathology, and knew that in either of those pursuits I would be supported and well educated here at Nebraska.

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in communication sciences and disorders?
In all the possible pathways my life could have gone, I had always envisioned myself in a helping profession. I had considered social work, nursing, midwifery, and teaching in my quest to find the right fit for me. The moment it all clicked for me was midway through my second semester of my senior year. Throughout my high school years my two youngest siblings were receiving services from our SLP, Ashley. I contacted her, and arranged a full day for me to job shadow. We saw at least 25 students during the school day, almost all of them working on different skills. She had a group in the morning working on appropriately asking questions, another group working on their /r/ sound. We worked with a student who was focusing on reading comprehension, met with a teacher about visual supports in the classroom, and had a preliminary meeting with a mom who had concerns about her child’s language. After that day, I was enthralled. The world of opportunity that communication sciences and disorders could provide opened up before me, and I haven’t considered anything else since.

How has serving as a communication partner helped you grow both personally and professionally?
Both the spring semester of my sophomore year and the fall of my junior year I had the opportunity to work as a communication partner. In the spring, my first partner and I spent 15 or so minutes together in the mornings before group therapy started. It was my task to get her through the door, checked in, and into my supervisor’s office, and then into the group therapy room. Looking back on it, it sounds simple, but during my first few weeks I was stressed, anxious and deeply worried that I would fail. It turned out fine, of course, but because I have already been through that cycle of worry and success, I am approaching my graduate clinician experiences this upcoming fall with a sense of positivity instead of fear. I was also given the wonderful opportunity to work with a group of three graduate clinicians and our supervisor more closely during the fall. I sat in on all of the planning meetings and eventually was able to help plan activities and develop goals for our clients. That experience has given me more confidence in speaking up on a team, and standing firm in my ideas.

What advice would you give to a new student entering the communication sciences and disorders program?
I think there is a tendency in the program to be constantly looking toward the future. “What am I doing today to make sure I will get into graduate school, years from now?” Is a question that I found myself and my peers often asking. Yes, it is important to set yourself up in a position to succeed, especially if graduate school is in your future. But that being said, if you live your life completely to build your resume or to maximize your chances of getting into graduate school, you aren’t living your life to the fullest. It’s so important to take time to do the things you enjoy doing, with people you enjoy spending time with. These past two semesters I’ve taken a ballet class, not because I think it’ll look best on my transcript, but because it’s something I wanted to do for myself. It doesn’t matter what you do for yourself, as long as it’s for you and only you.

What’s next after graduation?
Next fall I’ll be starting my master’s program for speech-language pathology here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I’m so excited to continue my journey with the school that has supported me throughout my undergraduate career. This summer I’ll be continuing my work with the Getting Ready project, a longitudinal study focused on improving school readiness outcomes for at-risk children. I’ve been lucky to be with the project for three years now, and even luckier that I have been awarded a research assistantship with them for the first year of my master’s program. Alongside research, I’ll be embarking on my third and final summer on the UNL conferences team staff, a team that has become almost like a second family to me during my time here.

Emma Loberg

Wayne, Nebraska  |  Communication Sciences and Disorders, Minors in History and Education

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
Nebraska felt right for a few major reasons: I fell in love with Neihardt while my older brother lived there, and I couldn’t wait to be in the Honors Program. After growing up on an acreage in northeast Nebraska, Lincoln was the perfect transitional city: not too big, but just different enough from where I grew up that it would be an adventure. It’s about 2:20 from home, which still is the ideal distance. When I toured the Barkley Center and discussed the program, everyone I encountered was so welcoming, helpful and kind. Talking to faculty, chatting with students in the Honors Program, Nebraska put out the sense that it cared about me as a person individually, that I was more than just a GPA or an ACT score or a class rank. That feeling has persisted for the past four years, and was a huge reason I decided to stay for graduate school.

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in communication sciences and disorders?
For most of my life, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. I’d been shaped intellectually and creatively by strong, empathetic teachers, and I envisioned the powerful bonds I’d form and what a difference I could make in the lives of students. As I began to explore speech pathology at the end of high school, I found a field that possessed all I’d desired from teaching, with a world that could expand far beyond a school. We truly don’t realize what a role communication, speech, and language have in our everyday lives unless there is a concern or a deficit in one of them. I’ve always had a hard time articulating exactly what it is that I want to do, because so many different specialties feel as though they’re a great fit for me, and this is a path that embraces and encourages flexibility. What other career field would allow me to hypothetically: 1. work with people who are English-Second-Language, 2. provide services throughout the lifespan, 3. work with transgender individuals on voice modification, 4. become involved in research for a field that is constantly adapting and innovating, 5. lecture as a professor?

What did you find most rewarding about participating in research opportunities as an undergraduate?
There is nothing like the power of asking a question, being affirmed that your question is interesting and valuable and worth answering, being given the tools and guidance to figure it out, and looking down at the 47-page bound document that you created that answers that question. I spent the first two years of undergrad daunted by the idea of completing thesis research, writing a 40-plus page document, and dedicating myself to something so intensely. The process was one of the most time-consuming and rewarding of my entire life. I learned problem-solving, I learned the joy and value in teamwork, I learned what music best accompanied hours and hours of calculations, I learned the power of re-framing challenges and unexpected results. In my thesis research, I was able to marry my two previous research areas: parental behaviors and children’s language. By zeroing in on subjects I was deeply invested in and collaborating with people who had similar interests, I never lost sight of the end goal and strove to never lose the forest in the trees. Two and a half years into researching at-risk preschool children, I was still engaged, I was still surprised by revelations I had in the literature, and I was still clamoring to tell friends about new breakthroughs I made; that’s how I realized that I’d truly found what I love to study.

What advice would you give to a new student entering the communication sciences and disorders program?
A little stress is what gets the work done; a lot of stress, all of the time, is not necessary for anything, and may be something to look at more closely. I’ve learned far more about myself in the last four years than I have space to share, and the biggest revelation has been the value of mental health awareness. I have a difficult time thinking of where I’d be if I hadn’t taken drastic steps to change my patterns of thinking, to honestly recognize parts of myself I struggled with my entire life, and to accept assistance without shame. Surround yourself with those who have your best interests at heart: family, friends, counselors, professors, advisors, supervisors. Listen to them. Too often, I think I need to do everything myself and that no one will understand, forgetting how many people I have in my corner who are so willing to help. 

On a completely different note, within your involvement, ask yourself, “Can I tell myself honestly that I enjoy this?” There are too many excellent opportunities, on-campus and off-campus, to be gritting your teeth every week to fulfill a commitment you don’t even like. Try things out, but don’t be afraid to step away, and don’t be afraid to venture into opportunities that you may not think are related to CS&D at face-value. Some of my most valuable and enjoyable experiences in undergrad, many that I was able to discuss when applying to graduate schools, may seem totally out-of-left-field on paper. Exposure to new people, new ideas, and new experiences may provide some of the most unexpected-knowledge that’ll prepare you for future school and career in ways you never considered. At the very least, have fun with it! Join that intramural broom-ball team! Apply for that internship in D.C! You will never know what may be out there unless you try.

What’s next after graduation?
I will be heading to Washington, D.C., for a summer position at the National 4-H Center. This fall, I will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s speech-language pathology master’s program with a graduate assistantship.

Stacy Peters

Kearney, Nebraska  |  Communication Sciences and Disorders, Minors in Education, and Child, Youth, & Family Studies

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
Being from Kearney, I was very torn between UNL and UNK. Kearney would have been the easy choice, but Lincoln had the better opportunities for me to grow. Nebraska had student life and extracurricular activities I was looking for in a college where I’ve had the opportunity to meet new people and establish my support system and my home away from home. Nebraska and the city of Lincoln have given me everything I could have asked from a college and even more.

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in communication sciences and disorders?
I didn’t always know I wanted to become a speech-language pathologist. In fact, in high school I barely even knew what it was. I come from a family of teachers, and I thought about becoming an elementary teacher, but the idea of standing in front of a class of 25 students scared that idea away about as quickly as it came. The idea of teaching one-on-one or in small groups sounded a lot better to me. When I was growing up, my mom was a special education teacher, and introduced me to the special needs population. I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession as I have always loved serving others, but especially individuals with exceptionalities. Having a background in education, my mom was actually the one that told me I should look into speech pathology, so I looked it up, and did a little shadowing, and decided to take a chance on it as my major. As soon as I walked into my first class freshman year, I knew I was exactly where I belonged, and this was the profession for me.

How has volunteering at Horses for Healing helped you prepare for your future?
Two years ago, I saw a flyer in the Barkley Center with a little girl riding a horse on it that said “Come volunteer with Horses for Healing!” I’ve always loved horses and thought volunteering with therapeutic horseback riding would be the perfect opportunity to combine my love for horses and my love for individuals with disabilities. Little did I know, when I showed up on my first day to volunteer, that the therapeutic horseback riding I would be helping with was actually speech therapy provided by the UNL graduate students. When I thought I was in love with the profession then, I fell in love with it all over again by the time I left on my first day.

I have learned so much these past two years from Dr. Weissling and the graduate students by observing and assisting them as they provided speech services to the riders. While learning in the classroom is important, this opportunity has been authentic hands-on experience that I will never forget. It’s incredible to see the progress all the clients have made since my first day two years ago, both in their horsemanship skills, and in their communication skills.  Horses for Healing has truly taught me that there are no boundaries when it comes to the setting a speech-language pathologist might serve in, and how to be creative in unique settings to provide the best services possible. I never would have guessed that taking that slip of paper in the Barkley Center would have led me to this learning opportunity. Horses for Healing has further ignited my passion for speech-language pathology, and I hope to continue volunteering for this organization for many years to come!

What advice would you give to a new student entering the communication sciences and disorders program?
My biggest advice would be to put yourself out there and get involved! There are so many opportunities for undergraduate students through NSSHLA. I took some of those opportunities to volunteer with the DSAF, and Scottish Rite Clinic, but there are so many more that I wish I would have gotten involved with. The biggest regret I would say that I didn’t do was become a communication partner. There was a time when aphasia communication partners were needed, but I didn’t feel “qualified” or that I knew enough about aphasia to step out of my comfort zone and volunteer. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there because the learning experiences and connections you will make are SO worth it! No one in this department at UNL will allow you to fail in the process.

What’s next after graduation?
After graduation, I will be pursuing my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Michaela Reddel

Omaha, Nebraska  |  Speech-Language Pathology, Minors in Education and International Studies

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
My grandparents on my mom’s side both work at the university, so I have grown up loving UNL, the campus and Lincoln as a city. When I was a senior in high school, I knew I wanted to major in speech pathology, so I did research on the different SLP programs around the state and in a few neighboring states. I was extremely happy to learn that UNL’s program for SLP is a top-20 program in the country. That impressed me and drew my interest. I also love the culture of Lincoln, the small-town feel, and the beauty of this city. Plus, I am close to my grandparents so that has been a joy because I can go over to their house for a home-cooked meal every once in a while.

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in communication sciences and disorders?
As long as I could remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher, but also have had a heart for individuals with special needs. My senior year, I was leaning toward becoming a SPED teacher, so I did an independent study with the SPED department at my high school. One day, a speech pathologist came in and did therapy with the group and I was extremely intrigued, so I changed my mind and wanted to do whatever she did. I declared SLP as my major freshman year, not fully understanding what the career really even was or what it entailed.

My classes freshman and sophomore year made me really like speech-language pathology, but I fell absolutely in love with this profession from experiencing the lack of it. The summer after my sophomore year, I went on a mission trip to India and experienced children with special needs who had no access to therapy at all. It broke my heart and opened my eyes to the need to communicate to maintain our identities and share our stories. The first two years of college, I liked it a lot, but once I experienced the lack of therapy in India, I chose speech path every day and enjoyed it so much more because of my growing passion for it.

What was it like for you to travel to Uganda to observe and evaluate the strengths and needs of speech-language pathology there?
After traveling to India and seeing an environment without therapy, I really wanted to experience speech path in a similar, vulnerable community. After lots of planning, my roommate and I traveled to Uganda by ourselves and partook in an internship with speech therapists around Uganda. This trip exceeded all expectations. I learned so much about speech therapy, communities and how the challenges of a developing country can shape therapy, and connected with a culture that was beyond beautiful. Although Uganda is very different from America, one thing was the same. Giving someone the ability to communicate, being heard and being seen is a desire that makes us human and gives us identity.

I came back from this trip with a lot of questions about what I can do to make a difference. Dr. Weissling let me pick her brain and share my stories about speech path and encouraged me to start an independent study that will be a research study on Uganda. It has taught me so much about research, Uganda and speech therapy, and I have loved every minute and am extremely grateful for Dr. Weissling and the ways she has mentored me this year.

What advice would you give to a new student entering the communication sciences and disorders program?
To any new student, or students still in the program, my advice would be to find something you are passionate about and get deeply involved with it, utilize your professors and have fun! For me, I knew I was passionate about overseas therapy. Dr. Weissling is one of my regulars at Scooters and one day I asked if I could meet with her and pick her brain about speech therapy, tell her my dreams about my future and hear her story. She then suggested I start a research project about something that I am passionate about which was Uganda. Your professors want to see you succeed and chase after things you are passionate about, so utilize them. They love their students! We have an amazing program so take advantage of all of the opportunities it offers. College is also stressful, so make sure you have fun, find a good community of supportive people and enjoy these four years because trust me, they go fast. 

What’s next for you after graduation?
After I graduate I will spend the summer in Lincoln as a wedding and portrait photographer. I have owned my own photography business for five years and will continue to do that into the summer full time. This includes a bit a traveling which is exciting as well as just meeting new people. I am excited to devote my summer to my passion of photography! I will then start graduate school in the fall at UNL which I am extremely excited about! I am so thankful for this program and the opportunity to continue my education here and grow as a person. 

Rachel Yager

Bozeman, Montana  |  Communication Sciences & Disorders, Minors in Education and Psychology

What made Nebraska the right fit for you?
I first visited the school as a recruit for athletics and while I was here I fell in love with Husker culture. Every place I looked at had school spirit, but Nebraska is more than that, it's an identity. UNL, and especially the athletic department, gave me the chance to be part of something greater than myself and give back to the people around me. The community and support in and around this school are amazing. And even though it was my first time in Nebraska, being here felt like coming home.

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in communication sciences and disorders?
My parents were actually the ones to first suggest it. Originally, I was looking at early childhood education, but I think they knew that CS&D would fit my personality better. When I took my first class in the major (SLPA 150, shout out to Professor Dinneen), that's when I fell in love with speech pathology. This degree trains you to work with all populations, and create meaningful improvement in the communication abilities of people all over the country and world. Now, because of my major, I get to put that knowledge to use and see the lasting change I can help people achieve. An added benefit is job security after graduation.

How has Nebraska’s communication sciences and disorders program helped prepare you for your future?
The communication sciences and disorders program has done everything possible to prepare me for life after college, in both the professional and personal spheres. The curricula for my classes were challenging and thought-provoking in a way that taught me to think and solve problems independently. It was structured in a way that taught me how to find the information I needed without simply giving it to me at every step. The great classes were possible because of the incredible faculty that run the program. Our professors were there every step of the way to guide our education and prepare us for life after graduation. The program as a whole provided the support we needed to learn as students and the experiences we needed to grow as people.

What advice would you give to a new student entering the communication sciences and disorders program?
If you know this is the major you want to be in, and speech pathology or audiology are the careers you want to pursue; then jump all in. This program and these professors are giving you information with real and immediate life applications. Don't just learn the information for the test, learn it because it will 100%, without a doubt, help you in your career when you graduate. I wish I had kept some of my notes, and made a point to remember more things because I know I am going to have to relearn them again later.

What’s next for you after graduation?
My next step is graduate school. I will be attending Ohio State University in the fall for speech pathology. After that, I plan to work in a medical setting and specialize in rehabilitative therapy for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.