It is officially over. This week on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, ISM had its Final Presentation Night. It couldn't have gone better. The organization of the event, thanks to Coach Goff, was amazing and it really created a memorable experience for the students, mentors, and guests. I had the privilege of helping set up for the event. Seeing all the work that goes in before ISM students even get there is amazing. A lot of people sacrifice a lot of things for all ISM students to have the opportunities we have.
After I helped set up, I was able to set up my own board and get my classroom ready. From there, it was all just a whirlwind. I ran home from that, threw on my suit, ran back to school, finished setting up my room (with the incredible help from my family), went to the gym, greeted my mentor and guests at my board, went to the auditorium and had mentor introductions, and then, before I knew it, was in my classroom giving my thirty minute speech.
With all the stress over, I am able to look back on my two years in ISM and really reflect on all the opportunities I've had. Every obstacle, defeat, and triumph, really taught me a lesson that will be applicable to situations in my life that I will encounter despite what career path I take, and I am forever grateful I was given that opportunity.
5.11.2015-5.15.2015
The end is in sight for all students, but this week I had no time to focus on that. With three AP tests this week alone, keeping up with anything else was too overwhelming to handle. I have put in 80 hours of studying for the four AP tests I took on top of keeping up with ISM things, and now all that is coming to a head this week. Because of the stress I feel, I put a two day hold on all things ISM just so I could really focus on testing. I was far enough ahead of schedule that I could afford to do that and not have major catch-up work later. So even with my few days off, I was able to finish my final product and turn it on Friday. Its hard to believe that all this work has led to this. The simple click of a button and a years worth of work was finished (besides Final Presentation Night, but you get the point).
5.4.2015-5.8.2015
This week is the start of three weeks of craziness and stress. I am taking four AP tests in total, with one of them being this week. This means the studying and work outside of ISM will be a little bit crazy. Next week will be hard to get anything accomplished because of the amount of testing I will have, so this week I need to get the bulk of the whats left of my final product done, as that is due next Friday. And the week after that is already Final Presentation Night. Its crazy that we are getting into single digit days until the night that this whole course has built up to. But I am extremely ready to give my presentation and show off what I have done this whole year in ISM.
4.27.2015-5.1.2015
It was finally the day that all ISM students fear. The final presentation speech run through. It is pretty intimidating to give this 30 plus minute speech for the first time. It is also a lot to prepare for. Even though my prezi did not take much work to update, memorizing a 30 minute speech is a hefty task. The only thing I felt that I didn't have to worry about was the length of my speech. At the beginning of this year, a speech that was only supposed to be 10 minutes ended up being 25. My main concern was always cutting things out as opposed to having to worry about adding thing. When I gave my speech, it ended up being 33 minutes. Aside from a few small notes, Coach Goff said my speech was thorough and kept her attention. Now I just have to practice my speech multiple times and I will be ready for May 19th.
4.13.2015-4.17.2015
I feel like the year is flying by so quickly, and I can catch my breath. Being a senior means you have a lot of things going on at once, and it's a bit overwhelming. However, that doesn't change the fact that I have ISM product to keep working on. This week I wrote the story to go along with the pictures and questions I wrote last week. The story was challenging, again, because of the language I had to learn how to use effectively. However, I feel the story is applicable and relatable to kids in my target age range. The story utilizes a lot of practical and social words that will help social interaction. It also employs the use of all the five senses. This helps engage the child as well as teach body awareness, catering specifically to the "language" part of speech and language pathology.
4.6.2015-4.10.2015
This week I showed my mentor my pictures and questions for my product. She really helped steer my questions and ideas. We edited the questions so that they really are tailored for 3-5 year olds. I found it a little bit difficult to gage my language to reach those little ones. I have had very little practice in trying to reach little kids at that age through writing. It is easier to engage in conversations face to face for 3-5 year olds because you can evaluate their development and gage your language based on what you observe. Trying to create blanket language to reach many different kids at different stages developmentally is difficult. However, mentor was able to help guide me through this difficult territory.
3.30.2015-4.3.2015
This week was particularly exciting for me because I saw my mentor and we really discussed product for the first time. We had brief conversations before that, however this past meeting we got a really good idea about what we wanted to see happen. We totally revamped and rethought certain elements and got our direction nailed down. This did cause me to shift my calendar because certain elements were changed completely. I do feel like an element of anxiety has been alleviated because my mentor was so amazing in guiding me. Her knowledge base and idea of what parents need is invaluable. I now have very concrete goals that I feel less daunted when working on them. I feel my final product will be applicable to all speech kids from the ages 3-5, especially kids in the Frisco area.
3.23.2015-2.27.2104
Working on product is officially in full swing. I am having flashbacks to last year and all the time I put in last year, and at times, it is a bit overwhelming. However, I feel that I have a firm grasp and direction of where I need to go. My schedule is very rigid so that I make myself focus. My mentor is also being a huge help in terms of giving me amazing ideas and feedback on my current progress. Our visits consist of me showing her what I have done on my product and her giving me feedback. I feel very lucky to have such an engaged mentor.
This past week in particular was a little stressful because I had my portfolio check. I will admit, I had not updated it as frequently as I should have. As a consequence, it took me a while to get everything printed and in order. Even though this was a little stressful, I always love when I get my portfolio updated because you get to see exactly how much work you have done. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the individual events and assignments that we forget how much we do in this class. And portfolios are a great way to remind us.
3.16.2015-3.20.2015
This week was stressful in terms of my workload in my other classes. And because of this, I'm afraid my ISM work was put behind schedule. The way I set my calendar up is to have a certain goal done by the Friday of that week. Last week, I only got about half of my goal done, which will cause major problems for this week, as I am on a fairly tight schedule. However, there is a little bit of wiggle room as I scheduled the heaviest research-oriented work at the beginning of the time period that I had to work. I did this because I knew that the next couple of weeks would be crazy with studying for AP tests and the increased classwork that often goes with that.
My struggle now will be time management and proper prioritizing. I don't want any part of my academic career to suffer at this point in the year, especially because its no easy with it being senior year.
3.2.2015-3.6.2015
I always feel like the week before a break is the longest week. I will admit that this week felt particularly slow. Being a senior, especially when it gets to this time of the year, makes every task seem far more laborious than it actually is. However, ISM seems to never seem that laborious, which I take as a good sign.
The first assignment of the week was to e-mail my mentor my product proposal. I found myself to be especially nervous to hear her feedback. I feel my concept is something that could be very beneficial in the world of speech pathology, but I don't feel as confident as I did last year. My mentor did tweak it a little but eased my nervousness by saying the concept itself was good.
Now, the next step is to not fall behind on my calendar. I have a lot of work to do if I want the final product to be up to my standards and I have to hold myself accountable to making sure everything is up to par.
2.23.15-2.27.15
The pressure was on this week as we had our product proposals due even though we had two ice days off. However, this level of expectations is not uncommon for ISM. I feel that it is really good preparation for the future.
The assignment that was due at the beginning of the week was our product proposal. It is a very formal paper that gives extreme detail about the product you plan to produce as well as the resources and methods needed to complete the product. I feel that my product is one that will be able to marketed and I am extremely excited about it. I do know, however, achieving what my plan is will take several hours of handwork, dedication, and information. I also feel that this product will allow me to use the resources I have built up in high school over my four years here.
2.16.2015-2.20.2015
This week was so amazingly fun this week. While I was, unfortunately, unable to meet with my mentor, I was given the opportunity to go and observe a speech class at an elementary school. I got to observe two classes as well as a small testing session. Everything I observed was so amazing and eye opening. I honestly didn't think I could respect SLP's more, but that observation showed me just how wrong I was. While the idea of helping kids at the elementary level greatly excites me, I feel getting a reality check of all the work that entails was extremely beneficial for me. There are many kids, especially ones that qualify for any kind of special education, that also have behavioral issues. This may require creativity with activities and lots of patience. But those are all things I am willing to do.
2.9.2105-2.13.2015
ISM has been an endless journey of research and fun. Product proposals are due very soon and figuring out what I want to do has been very intimidating. Last year I felt like my product was really something unique and beneficial, and I would like for my product this year to be at that level or even above that of last year.
What I feel has been my biggest obstacle this year is that there are already many products out there for speech pathology. While I was expecting this to aid and inspire me, I feel it has created frustration in the sense that I am finding difficulty finding a niche that I can gear a product toward. With my mentor's help though, she has steered me down the road of finding a product that will help Spanish speaking students. While I think this will be incredibly difficult, I also think it may be something very marketable and helpful to my mentor. I feel it will also allow me to utilize all the resources I have available to me.
2.2.2015-2.6.2015
This week was the dreaded speech week for me. I gave my original work speech that ended up being about 19 minutes long. Us ISM students give longer and longer speeches as the year progresses, so that by the end of the year, we have our final presentation night speech ready and rehearsed many times. I was fairly happy with my speech. I felt that my detail and description of my original work was in depth and easy to understand for those who aren't familiar with speech therapy and all that it entails. I feel like the amount of time I spend on my speech will vary based on my nerves, so I know I will have to have someone in the audience giving me time markers so I can keep track of my time.
1.27.2015-1.30.2015
This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of volunteering at a NSA (National Stuttering Association) conference with my mentor. She invited me to this event where I got to work with kids and speech pathologists in various workshops throughout the event. It was an amazing experience to get hands on experience with these kids.
I learned so much from the students as well as the speech pathologists. The students showed me the different implications that come with having a speech disorder. They taught me how much effort it takes to work and overcome any speech disorder. They inspired me to put as much effort into this topic as they do into their everyday lives.
The speech pathologists taught me that compassion and understanding are big components in addition to the actual therapy. I also learned that many visuals and fan activities can be used in trying to achieve goals, especially in a group setting. The speech therapists also showed me how specializing within speech pathology works and the advantages and disadvantages.
1.20.2014-1.24.2015
Original works are due at the end of next week and I am working diligently on research and collecting my thoughts. Learning all the things necessary for my original work has been overwhelming to say the least, however, I feel this knowledge will stick with me wherever I go and be extremely applicable in whatever road I chose to go down.
My next steps looking into next week will be to compile all my research and put it in a comprehensive format that makes it easy to understand for pretty much anyone that reads it. My goal with all ISM things that I create is to make it possible for all kinds of people to understand it. I feel things involving children should be made to be understood by the general public so that everyone has the opportunity to have the knowledge about the process and the reason behind all the things done in school and private practices involving the rehabilitation of developmentally delayed children.
1.13.2015-1.16.2015
This was the last week of the semester, and it really flew by. The original work due date is fast approaching. This past week has been all about secondary research. In speech pathology, there are many sounds and combinations of sounds that you must be aware of. I have been looking up all theses sounds and seeing what the most common difficult sound is for children. Many have trouble with the "r's", "th's", and "s's".
With this information, it becomes easier to prioritize and create my original work. The ability to comprehend and feel where sounds are in your mouth and in words creates an understanding that will translate onto paper and into the brains of the students that see me for treatment. My next step will be to consolidate all of the research I have gathered into a comprehensive paper and use that to create my original work.
1.5.2105-1.9.2015
The first week back from a break is always difficult, especially when the break is two weeks long. However, final presentation night is coming quickly, and I don't want to get behind now. I saw my mentor on Wednesday, and I have to say it is just what I needed. Being in her environment and learning things a classroom could never teach me just really excited me.
This visit, I got to look through materials my mentor had ordered to get an idea of what was available to schools. She had so many great resources for me to look at, and many ideas for products began to roll around in my brain. Getting to see products before seeing their application is beneficial to me in this case. I feel I will have a general concept of what the goals are for the kids and how these products help them reach their goals. Once I see the application, I feel I will have knowledge that will be pretty extensive.
12.15.2014-12.19.2014
The Winter Showcase has come and gone and I can't believe it. There is always a ton of work leading up to the showcase and I am both relieved and sad that it is over. I wasn't elated over my display last year, and this year I really wanted to be able to decorate my board and make it as exciting as possible.
Prepping for the showcase was actually pretty fun. I was able to go to and really look at materials available to the general public that can be used for SLP's. Most of the materials available were definitely more classroom oriented. However, it was good to get an idea of what is readily available. I considered that adventure an unplanned data collecting/research excursion because that information will help me develop a product as well as my original work. Being able to utilize or avoid products everyone has access to will make for a more applicable product and a more enriching ISM experience.
12.8.2014-12.12.2014
The exhaustion is starting to set in, but I need to keep my energy up until at least the Winter Showcase, which is next Tuesday. I have gotten all the supplies for my display and I have the display all planned out. I just need to keep focusing on the fact that I have a mentor and continue gathering research to prepare for my original work.
This week I also had my first mentor visit and it was amazing. The first mentor visit is always important for planning and getting on the same page as well as throwing some idea around for original work and final product. From what my mentor and I talked about, I am going to get to see so many things that will help me get a comprehensive view of the field and really define my career. This year is the first year of my career and what I am able to learn will help and affect me for the rest of my life.
12.1.2014-12.5.2014
The week after a break is always a difficult adjustment and tiring. However there is nothing quite as energizing as setting up your first mentor visit. I was very excited to know that the real fun was about begin. And, because my visit is next week, I am going to do research and prepare as much as possible. Opportunities like these shouldn't be wasted, so I intend to make my mentor ship as productive as possible and not waste a single second.
Other than that, I have also finished my display board for the Winter Showcase. It was exciting to see an entirely different (and better if I do say so myself) concept and presentation of my topic come together, and I can't believe that the Winter Showcase is almost here!
11.17.2014-11.21.2014
This week was so exciting because it involved one of the highlights of the entire year. All ISM kids get the privilege to go to UNT and visit classes connected to our topics of study. The day is very relaxed and designed to give us the opportunity to see what the day in the life of college student looks like.
I sat in on two classes, both were really great experiences. The first was curriculum writing and the topic of the day was professionalism. I thought this was rather humorous considering everything we have learned in ISM has to do with professionalism. However, the lesson ended up being more about how to find a job. Learning the steps I would have to take to transition out of college was beneficial to hear.
The second class I sat in on was called Clinical Practicum in Speech and Hearing Sciences. This class was very specific to Speech and Language Pathology and gave a lot of good inside information. The topic that day just happened to be group therapy and the professor was awesome. She was very enthusiastic and was really reaching her students and teaching them to love Speech Therapy just as much as she did.
11.10.2014-11.14.2014
The excitement is real now. I have gotten a mentor and I am excited to continue on this ISM journey and learn even more through first hand experience. I remember last year having a mentor totally changed how I felt about the program. Even though I knew how beneficial ISM could be, I never fully understood until I saw it for myself.
Now that the mentor-ship is official, I need to begin research for my original work. Even with the guidance of a mentor, the accountability for the knowledge falls on the student. The research takes a while and I will need to begin now in order for the original work to be something that is worth while.
In addition to research, construction of my display board and invitations to the Winter Showcase need to begin almost immediately. After Thanksgiving break, due dates for things to be prepared come up very rapidly. And I need to be prepared for the intensity.
11.3.2014-11.7.2014
Research. An independent study class is going to, of course, require a lot of researching. This year is a little bit different because I have been using databases for my information. This is more time consuming however my information is a lot better and I have read a lot about programs and studies being done in universities. This has made the information that I have conducted more applicable to my short term life. It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is almost here. The thought has made me realize how close graduation really is. My college applications are all submitted, however it still doesn't seem real. I can't wait for the rest of the year. I only know that all of the experiences that I will have in this class will only further prepare me for whatever university I end up at.
10.27.2014-10.31.2014
This week marked the end of October as well as the end of my fourth interview. I had some car troubles the morning of and wasn't sure if I would be able to make the interview. I went to Coach Goff in a panic and she calmly talked though my situation with me and gave me all my options. She even offered me her car to take to my interview, but my car was able to be delivered to me in time. The stress and improbability of the situation made me realize a few things. One, Coach Goff has a lot of faith in student drivers. Two, she is the perfect model of how to act in stressful situations. The way I was handling it was not productive. I need to take some cues from her and breathe whenever I get stressed. There is always a way to deal with problems, and I should strive to always make the best of whatever situation I am given. And finally, I need to double and triple check all the things I need to get to places I need to be. Even though I felt prepared with my suit and questions ready, I was clearly not because I didn't check the machine vital to getting me to where I needed to go. I was also not prepared to handle this seeing that the stress caused me to forget some things. It was a big learning curve, but a necessary one.
10.20.2014-10.24.2014
This week was a lot of writing. I have been lucky to get ahead in interviews and, therefore, interview assessments. They can sometimes be more difficult to write because this type of writing isn't what you have been trained to do in the public school system. This writing calls for reflection as well as analysis of your experience. Now that I am an ISM II student, these said assessments are easier to write. Through writing these assessments, I have become much more self aware. Being able to actually write down how certain things affect you makes you become familiar with who you are and what you want. Picking out the details of what affects you from your experience makes that experience way more valuable.
I also wrote a research assessment over speech pathology for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients. Coach Goff gave me a connection to someone who works in that field of speech pathology and so I thought it was imperative that I become familiar with some terminology used when working with TBI patients. I have become so familiar with terminology when working with children with special needs because that was what I studied last year and what all of my research and interviews up have catered to this year. I found it very interesting and very beneficial. I always have to remember to keep my options open and look for new things to learn and help me grow.
10.14.2014-10.17.2014
The entire district had Monday off this week, which, for ISM students, this meant Monday was a day for interviews. Little did I know that I would be lucky enough to score two interviews for the price of one. The colleague of the initial professional I had set the interview up with was very kind and offered her time and a tour of her work space in addition to all the wonderful information I had gained from my interview a few minutes prior. I was very lucky to be able to get such a wonderful and immersive feel for the possibilities of speech pathology.
On Wednesday, Seniors had late arrival so I was able to schedule another interview without having to miss school. This interview as also extremely beneficial to my research. The professional I interviewed was very forthcoming about the mistakes she had made in her education process. Her positive attitude made me realize nothing is really permanent. She was able to change her career path many times, gain experience and knowledge from each one, and still find her passion. The take she took on how to approach life choices taught me a lot about the workforce just as much as all the things we talked about that were speech pathology related.
10.6.2014-10.10.2014
This week was a lot of preparatory work. Research was my main focus for the week due to the fact that all of interviews are coming up quickly. It was important for me to have a greater understanding of the field so that I could go into my interviews able to ask intelligent questions and follow up questions. While the interviews are important to gather knowledge, its not for basic field knowledge. Or at least that isn't how I like to utilize my time. I have found that the more information you go into the situation with, the more information you will gather over all. It also serves as a tool to help the interview go smoother. The ability to call on knowledge I have gathered helps in keeping the interview relaxed and conversation-like. This helps both the professional and myself able to ask and answer questions as fully as possible.
9.29.2014-10.3.2014
One of the major events in ISM is the business symposium. I can't believe it has already came and went. The set up this year was a little bit different and the organization flowed very well. I had the opportunity to have two interviews. I got positive feedback on both. I was told that I was easy to talk to and approachable. This was a huge "victory" for me because in the past I have been told I have been a little bit unapproachable or standoffish. So to know I have been overcoming that aspect of myself felt great.
I always learn so much when I get the opportunity to speak to professionals. For instance, I learned that its okay to have a passion for something for the first part of your life and then feel like you would be better suited for something else. In ISM, and in high school in general, choices seem very permanent. But many of the professionals, even during the meet and greet portion of the symposium, belabored the point that keeping an open mind while going through life is the best way to lead a life that is fulfilling to you.
9.22.2014-9.26.2014
This week was a successful week. I was able to finish my resume and submit it. I also got two interviews confirmed. Next week I am looking forward to the Business Symposium. I can't believe that the symposium is here already. What has happened so far this year has made me very optimistic about what is to come. The professionals I have contacted have been very willing and excited to talk with me. I am glad I have decided to pursue such a friendly and talkative topic this year. While last year was a wonderful experience, the professionals were all very busy and intimidating to talk with. This year, the goal is to be easy going, laid back, and ready to learn. Speech Pathology is lending itself nicely to these goals.
9.15.2014-9.19.2014
Things were really picking up this week in ISM. The nerves associated with pressing the little blue button that sends your words to a professional were felt. However, those nerves are nothing compared to the nerves when you hear the ringing knowing that a professional has the capability of picking up that phone. Living in an age of texting and screen communication has severely handicapped many of my fellow teenagers. But that is what is so great, and terrifying, about ISM. You are given this golden opportunity to rise above the screens and the labels that are associated with our generation. However, whats terrifying about ISM is you are pushed out of the life of screens and labels. From my studies of psychology last year, I know that most people feel comfortable being labeled. This means your role is defined for you and that you can just worry about meeting the requirements of that label you have been given. Being forced out of a label and defining yourself means that you have to determine what you want and then work to achieve that. And I find it to be back-breaking work, but also the most rewarding thing I've had the privilege to experience.
I did manage to get four responses of professionals willing to meet with me, which was very exciting. In addition to that, I completed the rough draft of my resume, which is a surreal experience. You never realize how much work you've done over an extended period of time until it is all written out for you.
In summation, the year has begun, and its going to be a fun one.
9.8.2014-9.12.2014
The third week of school was a busy one. It was this week that made me remember how much work and effort ISM requires. At the beginning of this year, I was just remembering the mentor ship and the final presentation of last year. For whatever the reason, I didn't remember that I had devoted a lot of my time to this class. But, nonetheless, I managed to remind myself through doing research and trying to build my contact list.
I did manage to find 23 contacts through multiple sources, including Coach Goff and the UNT course guide. I am very excited to get in contact with many of these contacts because I see a benefit in interviewing all of them. But, I do know, based on my experience from last year, that I will have to be very proactive and get interviews scheduled quickly.
9.2.201-9.5.2014
Even though the week was short due to Labor Day, it felt as though it would never end. However, a lot was accomplished this week. Wednesday was professional dress review day. As a second year student, I had seen this presentation already. Although the information was nothing new, it made me excited to put my suit on again. I remember shopping for my suit with my mom. It was such a fun shopping trip and brought back fond memories and made me eager to make new memories this year.
Friday was the day that really kicked off the real ISM work. I did my career outlook assessment, and, in order to do that, I had to go onto the Bureau of Labor Statistics' website and find all the information that pertained to speech pathology. My research showed that, with increased awareness and acceptance of developmental delays, the industry is expected to grow. I also learned that 41% of speech pathologists work in schools. This made me think of the possibility of minoring in education or even getting certified so I have more options as I face going out into the world.
8.25.2014-8.29.2014
This week was the first week of school. On Monday, Coach Goff went over the six weeks packet and gave a general overview of what the year has in store for us.
On Wednesday, the entire class gave three to five minute introduction speeches. Mine, to my dismay, fell a few seconds short of three minutes. Coach Goff told me as soon as I had finished giving my speech that I had forgotten to state my name, which is such a simple thing and so silly to forget. But I guarantee that I will not forget to say my name again.
And, on Friday, I wrote my mission statement and selected my quote.
On Wednesday, the entire class gave three to five minute introduction speeches. Mine, to my dismay, fell a few seconds short of three minutes. Coach Goff told me as soon as I had finished giving my speech that I had forgotten to state my name, which is such a simple thing and so silly to forget. But I guarantee that I will not forget to say my name again.
And, on Friday, I wrote my mission statement and selected my quote.
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are”
-Joseph Campbell
My mission statement this year is:
By
conducting several interviews and having a mentor, I hope to further my
knowledge in speech pathology, make a product that will help many people, and
gain life experience to benefit me for the rest of my career.
