A substantial personal life experience led me to the career choice of speech-language pathology. In October 2021, my grandfather had a massive stroke. He went from being extremely active to being bound to a wheelchair, paralyzed on his right side, and having anomic aphasia with flaccid dysarthria. I witnessed his frustration as he was upset that no one was able to understand what he was attempting to say. Knowing that someone you love, who you were once able to have weekly conversations, is having trouble with their ability to speak and swallow was difficult to process. Although I do not know what it feels like to suffer from these linguistic barriers directly, I understand the pain points and challenges of communicating with someone who is frustrated. Since his stroke, he has had tremendous improvements in his speaking and swallowing. Although my grandfather’s stroke was terrifying, it truly inspired me to want to become a speech-language pathologist so I can help people like my grandfather. I want to be able to transform the lives of not only the patient but also the families of the patient as communication serves as a huge part of our everyday live In this world, I want to strive to bring more inclusivity to the speech-language pathology field. The experiences I have had to get me to this point encourage me to fight for every patient that may or may not look like me. I know how it feels to be misjudged or stereotyped just on what is outwardly perceived and I know my perspective will be crucial in the field. Growing up in predominately white schools, I faced many moments that challenged my identity. I vividly remember a classmate asking me if I was African American or not just because I talked more “proper” than how an African American “should” speak. I was taken aback by this question as there was no other way I needed to speak because that was just me. This moment taught me how easily society makes presumptions about others and how these stereotypes can be deeply ingrained. It is important that we challenge these presumptions and my goal in doing this is to advocate for patients who may be over-identified or assumed to have a speech disorder just from how they are perceived. Furthermore, it is crucial to have speech-language pathologists who also look like their patients as it is important that everyone feels seen and heard. I am a difference-maker, and I want to continue paving the way for other African American speech-language pathologists to come.

As the great motivational speaker, Tony Robbins stated, “Problems are the gifts that make us dig out and figure out who we are, what we’re made for, and what we’re responsible to give back to life.” A substantial personal life experience led me to the career choice of speech-language pathology. In October 2021 when I was in my fall semester of freshman year, my grandfather had a massive stroke. This obstacle affected both me and my family as well as our lives also changed that day. He went from being extremely active to being bound to a wheelchair, paralyzed on his right side, and having anomic aphasia with flaccid dysarthria. It was shocking to hear his speech when he first had the stroke because his words were slurred, and he was not able to express himself. I witnessed his frustration as he was upset that no one was able to understand what he was attempting to say. Knowing that someone you love, who you were once able to have weekly conversations is having trouble with their ability to speak and swallow was difficult to process. Although I do not know what it feels like to suffer from these linguistic barriers directly, I understand the pain points and challenges of communicating with someone who is frustrated. Since his stroke, I have seen tremendous improvements in his speaking. He can eat solid foods and his speech is more intelligible. He is becoming confident in his speaking abilities, which makes me happy. We have even been able to have conversations on the phone which has made me appreciative of the work of speech-language pathologists. Although my grandfather’s stroke was terrifying, it truly inspired me to want to become a speech-language pathologist so I can help people like my grandfather. I want to be able to transform the lives of not only the patient but also the families of the patient as communication serves as a huge part of our everyday lives. Lastly, being able to shadow speech-language pathologists in different fields has further excited me for the field. I have been able to observe how the works of speech-language pathologists are life-changing to patients of all ages and that by providing your knowledge, you can transform lives. As a young African American woman, I aspire to give a culturally diverse perspective to patients who may be over-identified as having a language disorder just from the way they look or talk.

I want to attend college because I always have desired to achieve the next big thing. For me, getting the opportunity to have a higher education is inspiring to me and makes me want to do the best I can. As a current undergraduate student at The University of Kentucky, this experience has been breath taking in being able to work hard for my dreams. I am currently working on my major in Elementary Education and I knew that going to college would be the best way for me to be able to get the positions I am aspiring to become. I plan to make a positive impact using my education by helping out the younger children as I become a teacher. I have always known that I have wanted to help teach children become the best versions of themselves, since I was younger through volunteering efforts. I believe seeing children grow into the next world leaders, peacemakers, activists and whatever they endeavor would be the most rewarding gift and experience I could ever experience. I know that teaching is the way I want to contribute to the world and I am eager to see the effect of that.

Through volunteering, I’ve discovered that I have a passion for helping kids and want to play an important role in helping children become the best versions of themselves. I am the hard-working student I am today because of the foundation my elementary teachers built in me. They have inspired me to teach. I know the impact that they have made in my life. It is my hope that I will teach with that same fueling passion. I am inspired to pay it forward. Being a teacher gives me this opportunity. My career goal is to become an elementary school teacher. I want to attend the University of Kentucky to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. After I graduate, I plan to utilize my Elementary Education degree to help cultivate the minds of the youth. As an African American woman, I am excited about bringing more diversity to the education field. I want to impact children of all races to set a solid foundation for them. I want the children to remember the words that left such an impression on me, “you can be anything you want to be..”. I’ve learned from my father the importance of serving. My father left a corporate job to volunteer as an Associate Pastor at our church. Our church has found a way to pay my father a small amount (after a year of volunteering, but it is nothing in comparison to before). My parents don’t say much about it, but I know that the weight of keeping me active in organizations and getting me in college has to be on their minds. Being a recipient of this scholarship would be an honor and a blessing for not only myself but also for my parents. Furthermore, the scholarship would help me make my dream into reality and to fulfill the career goal I have for myself.

My greatest inspiration in life is witnessing others around me who do better in the world and that in all, further enhances me to try my best. I'm inspired by those who think and act outside of the box and those who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Kofi Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, stated, “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” As the daughter of a pastor, I understand that each of us have a role to play in the body of Christ. A hand can’t do what the eyes do nor vice-versa. Each part has a function, a responsibility. It’s when working together that success is made; that one can take hold of the opportunity in front of them. My parents have instilled in me the importance of being a leader and not a follower; to be comfortable in my own skin. For the past twelve years, I’ve been a member of a non-profit organization whose purpose is to develop future African-American leaders by strengthening them through volunteering efforts, civic duty, and scholastic development. I’m currently the teen president and have the responsibility of twenty-six teens. Being the teen president during two pandemics has given me the opportunity to be a strategic thinker, to face the challenges of heightened racial tensions and Coronavirus restrictions. Being a person of color in a predominately white institution, I’ve learned that we cannot judge a book by its cover and must open the book to know the true story. Each of us have a unique story. I’ve learned through the years to appreciate who I am, the uniqueness I bring to any situation. I’ve learned to embrace my natural curls and my beautiful skin. I’m proud of who I am. Stephen Covey, author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", said it best, “The strength lies in the differences, not in similarities.” It is those differences and unique experiences that allow me to be M.E. (motivated and encouraged). I want to instill that in children at a young age. I have always had a passion for helping children become the best versions of themselves.