Ok, job talk. 

Part-time job talk that is. Many of you are wondering if you can have a part-time job while in grad school. In my case, Winning Speech is my part-time job. I know others who have one and I even know others who have a full-time job while doing their SLP masters. The girls that I know who have a full-time job both already are speech teachers. Remember the article where I gave a few tips on what to do with an undergrad degree? Yep, they already have their TSSLD and can do speech therapy in schools while going for their masters.

However, I haven’t heard of anyone with a full-time job that isn’t in speech or for that matter a speech job that isn’t
being a speech teacher.
 
From what I’ve seen, it’s not easy handling a part-time job and a full time curriculum. It’s even harder if pursuing both full-time. How hard is it? Well those with a part-time job end up reducing their hours or quitting altogether. But some do manage to keep theirs, so it is doable, just be ready to work hard, to have incredible discipline and to say
goodbye to your social life. The little free time you have will be spent sleeping. If you’re not, you’ll most likely be too tired to want to go out. 

In the case of speech teachers, quitting or reducing work hours isn’t an option because NY state requires that they hold a masters within a 5 year window. So they do the best they can.

I’m back! Had to take a little vaca…
 
So my first year has gone. And I’ll tell you this, it flashed by! I did not expect it to go that fast. And this seems to be the consensus among all of us 1st year girls (and boys). So here’s hoping the next year will zoom by as fast or even faster. Why not?
 
I’m keeping busy this summer. I did take a vacation to Spain and France tho, I needed that break! A few days after I got back, I took an aural rehab class (speech and language rehabilitation for the deaf). That is over now, no more studying for me until the Fall (smiling and nodding). I am just starting with speech clinic and am continuing the dyslexia and bilingualism research that I started during the 1st summer session. That is quite fun actually! I’m interested in adding research to my career mix and was pretty excited about this experience. And so far, I am not disappointed. Better yet, it’s pretty awesome.

My speech practicum is being referred to as in-house because– wait for it – it is done at the school clinic J. I’ve only done audiology clinic so far so I’m buzzed and nervous about my first foray into therapy. There’s in an incredible amount of materials at the clinic, ipads included (they’re becoming pretty common in therapy now), as well as some great online resources. 

Of course I’ll be sharing what I find out, that is the whole point of Winning Speech!

So stay tuned!