Student Experiences with Alexander

Transcript

Sometimes experiencing your own ailments can lead you to making a career choice. Speech-Language Pathology student Alex was firmly established as a Dental Medicine student until he discovered he had a communication disorder. This led him down a new path at Midwestern University. Alex, tell us all about it.

– Thank you for the introduction, Alex. Ever since I was in middle school, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare and help other people. My healthcare career began when I volunteered at a hospital and worked as an EMT. Then I decided I wanted to become a dentist, but it wasn’t until later, I discovered speech language pathology and found my path. This discovery began my third year of dental school. Even though I passed my classes in the first two years, I began the struggle. I had a very difficult time following instructions and I could not remember what was said or make out words very well. I was about to be forced to withdraw until I went to see an audiologist where I was diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder. That’s when I decided I wanted to work with people with communication disorders. I looked up speech language pathology programs in Arizona, found Midwestern and the rest was history. Midwestern has the most well-rounded support for students I have ever seen. There truly is an experience for everyone on campus. I even get to practice teletherapy with my clients, which ironically is the same audiology treatment I did as a patient. Midwestern offers multiple resources to help students with their mental health, nutrition and exercise. If you cannot meet with a therapist or nutritionist, they will schedule a teletherapy appointment with you. Here at Midwestern, they help you succeed more than just the educational aspect. Being a student for as long as I’ve been, I know it’s not just about the knowledge you gain, it’s also about the support that you receive. Midwestern’s SLP program has truly emphasized how to treat my future patients with respect, dignity, and patience. That’s my story. Back to you, Alex.

– So inspiring and an incredible journey of resilience and perseverance, Alex. The Speech-Language Pathology Program at Midwestern offers an integrated educational pathway that combines academic research and clinical experiences, creating the next generation of well-prepared speech-language pathologists like Alex. Thanks for sharing your story.