10 Reasons Why Being an SLP is the Best!
Better Speech and Hearing Month is ending. I wonder if it is a coincidence that this event happens to fall on the busiest month of the year for SLPs working in preschools/daycares in Alberta. I have been doing nonstop assessments and then writing reports. This month has been exhausting and have needed to remind myself why I have the best job in the world!
Here is my list for the Top 10 Reasons Why Being an SLP is the Best!
10) So much variety! I will never get bored! I love working with kids of all ages. I can work with kids who need support in so many different areas. These include: articulation, language, motor planning, stuttering, AAC, literacy, voice, feeding and swallowing, executive functions, self-advocacy, conversation skills, etc. Every client is unique, and no day is ever the same!
9) Helping families embrace their role in helping their children communicate. Parent coaching is one of the best parts of my job! Children only come to see me once a week. So, nothing gives me more joy then when parents have that ah-ha moment when they realize that they can do so much to help their children communicate on their own!
8) The ability to be creative and flexible. I am always challenging myself to think outside of the box to offer my clients the best therapy options. Being an SLP is far from a “one size fits all” career.
7) Casual work uniform. Because I am on the ground or running around with kids all day I get to dress in comfortable and functional clothes.
6) Watching clients make progress. The process of therapy is really amazing to experience. Progress is different for all students but embracing and celebrating small gains is so important.
5) The feeling when clients achieve their goals. To follow the last point, when clients achieve their goals, there is reason for a huge celebration!
4) You can specialize in one area or not. There are so many areas SLPs work in and if you find one that you are passionate about, you can only do that if you want! I have found my passion for working with young children and am lucky enough to have many on my caseload!
3) Lifelong learning opportunities. I love to learn! There are always professional development opportunities to further my knowledge and skills. But I never seem to have enough time (or money) to take them all!
2) Working with other professionals. I love to collaborate with other professionals. To this day I say that Occupational Therapists are my favourite people! I learn so much from them that make me a better SLP and they always give me strategies that I can use in my own life too!
1) I get to play all day! When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I would say “I just want to be a kid and play all the time”. Well my dream came true!
