become a speech pathologist

Today was the first day of my new job as an official, certified speech pathologist. I should have started last week, but there was a hiccup in getting my accreditation and certification in order (a mixup in my clinical hours submission). But that got all cleared up and today, officially, I can put R.SLP at the end of my name on paperwork.

The actual day of work today was kind of slow: lots of paperwork and visits from parents. But I got a jump on looking over some files, and it looks like I’m going to be working with a good team. And the kids. I only met a few today, but they seem like they’re going to be a lot of fun. I just hope I can take some time to enjoy them during my first year of stress and headaches…

Had my convocation yesterday; it was a little long, as expected, but I liked dressing up in the robe and shaking the Dean’s hand. There were a few whoops and hollers when my name was called, and he said to me, “Sounds like you brought a fan club,” something he probably says a lot because he said the exact same thing to me when I got my B.Sc. six years ago. But it was a good experience and now my degree is ceremonially official. And I picked up my thesis today, so now all I really have to do is send away for my clinical hours, and I’ll be certified. Then, the big challenge: trying to set up an interview. It’s been a LOOOONG time since I’ve had to do a job interview, and I’m already nervous. But I have enough people kicking my ass over it so I think it’ll happen soon.

Well, I just got home from a half-day at work, and I found an envelope from CASLPA in my mailbox. My blood ran cold, but I immediately ran in and sat down on the couch to read it. The results? I passed. Huzzah and hooray! Now I will have lunch, when the knots in my stomach have unwound.

I’m not having a good night, folks. I write my CASLPA certification exam tomorrow (four hours, two hundred questions) and The Test Fear is setting in. A headache is creeping up on me, I can’t concentrate on anything, and with every page or note I review or re-write, the words “there’s no WAY you’re going to do this” keep echoing in my head. I’m doing my best, but it’s just so daunting; for every fact or theory I remember there are five more I need to review. I know it’s almost pointless to keep studying, but I kind of have to.

I normally don’t react like this to tests, but this one’s a BIG one, and unlike any other test I’ve ever written (except maybe the GRE), my entire life pivots around this test. I don’t know. Maybe I should have started studying earlier, even though I did start at the end of January; maybe 2 months wasn’t enough. Maybe I should have dedicated more time to it. Maybe I should have tried harder to get a hold of some other people who were studying for the exam too. I don’t know that any of that would have helped my mood right now. I’d still be worrying, probably just as bad. But maybe then I’d at least be prepared and feel unprepared, as opposed to what I think I am now. Let’s hope I’m not flushing $400 and the next year of my life down the drain.

There are four days left in my current practicum. I am counting down the days, but I’m excited and kind of downhearted at the same time. I’m sure going to be happy when this is under my belt, but I really like the atmosphere, my supervisors (most of the time), the other SLPs, the staff, and the kind of work I’m doing. It’s going to be weird not walking into the hospital every morning, but I hope to be back to it – or one like it – some day.

...Of my last practicum. Getting awfully close to the end, which means I’m getting awfully close to being “independent”, which I don’t feel I’m that ready for at the moment. Then I just have my thesis to do, which will be challenging, if totally worthwhile.

I completed all my courses last year, but I still need to finish up my thesis (Pragmatic Language Impariment in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), and my second external placement. I finished my first week at my placement at the UofA Hospital, and it’s REALLY different than I thought it would be. I’m liking it quite a lot so far, and am seriously thinking of working in a medical setting. Trying not to be too gung-ho about it, though, because it is only the first week, after all, and I’m sure there will be a few hardships along the way. Still: first week down, and I’m more excited about going back to the hospital than I was for my school placement. Good sign, I think.