There is a capability for good in every person, and access to education that accommodates to one’s needs is a right that everyone deserves in order to wield that potential in full. In a world where no person is the same, it is important to create inclusive environments that support the needs of all children. As a person with a speech disorder and Tourette syndrome, I have not always had my needs met at school. Until my second year of high school, I never had any accommodations, and even when I received them, they were not always met. There are many students who need support in classrooms but are unable to receive it because the struggles that they face are often left unrecognized until adulthood. Because I have had such experiences, my plan is to make a meaningful change in my community by pursuing a career in neuropsychology. Attending speech therapy sparked my interest in child psychology, neuroscience, communication disorders, and pediatric medicine. My speech therapist demonstrated empathy, patience, and kindness to me. I remember being told to simply stop moving or stuttering by people who didn't understand Tourette syndrome or speech impairments, which discouraged me from my passion of performing poetry. My speech therapist was the one who gave me the confidence to perform in front of hundreds of people, leading to me winning first place in a poetry competition. That moment has had a lasting impact on me. I strive to make a difference in the lives of children in a similar way, which is why I am now choosing to study neuroscience and developmental psychology. I want to make neurological and mental health care more accessible for students and bring awareness to neurodevelopmental conditions to bring a better understanding of them. As a neuropsychologist, I would hope to validate people with developmental disabilities instead of shaming them, and create a comfortable, supportive, and uplifting environment. Throughout high school, I participated in healthcare internships and clubs, and began to take classes such as biology, psychology, and chemistry. Continuing my education is a necessity to me, as the field of neuropsychology requires extensive training. Alongside my education, I want to do research on communication disorders and how they can coexist with neurodevelopmental and psychological disorders, because many children are affected by this but their families lack the resources to address it. It is my goal to make a great difference in the lives of children the same way my speech therapist did, by ensuring that every child’s voice is heard and valued, regardless of what they sound or act like. I am fascinated by how speech and language is processed, and am eager to continue exploring the relationship between neurological conditions and child development.

Warm sunlight gently crept into the otherwise dark space underneath my elementary school playground’s slide. Over the sound of giggling children playing around our hidden area, I excitedly talked to my friend. Suddenly, he interrupted me with the most poisonous laugh I’d ever heard. “Speak normally.” That was not the last time I'd been told that. I would be corrected in front of my class while presenting, or even while introducing myself. Public speaking, and my view on talking overall, had always been a challenge for me. I’ve dealt with speech and communication issues since I first started talking, and between soft-speaking and stuttering, I was sure that my voice would never be heard. I preferred not to speak at all in public spaces, especially since whenever I did, I’d get comments on how monotonous I was, or how nervous I sounded. Despite this, I still hoped to perform poetry one day. I finally got to see a speech therapist when I was thirteen. She was wonderful; she would explain different speech disorders to me, and teach me strategies to make my words much clearer. She validated my interests in spoken word, reassuring that the way I sounded wouldn’t diminish what I needed to say; and most importantly, she told me that there was no shame in having a speech impediment. I gradually became more comfortable with my speech, beginning to accept it as a part of myself rather than a burden. After many sessions with my speech therapist, I finally had the confidence to read my poetry in front of hundreds of people. I am thankful for her words, not only for putting what I was once ashamed of into a positive light, but also for furthering my interest in speech pathology and pediatric medicine. I wanted to know more about communication disorders and children's health. It became my goal to make a great difference in the lives of children the same way my speech therapist did, by ensuring that every child’s voice is heard and valued, regardless of what they sound like. I am fascinated by how speech and language is processed, and am eager to continue exploring the relationship between communication disorders and child development. I am motivated by my hope to create a space where children are never asked to "speak normally," and can confidently express themselves, because there is no wrong way to speak.