I became interested in the field of Speech-Language Pathology because my cousin required speech services at an early age. Sometimes, I would attend his different sessions, and while observing them, I was quickly intrigued by the relationship he developed with his speech-language pathologist. Unlike anything I had seen, the speech-language pathologist could grab their clients' attention and build a rapport. With these interactions, I realized my passion for the field. I wanted to know how a clinician could create a comforting environment to perform therapy in which they could engage in interactive games while providing treatment for young individuals. Throughout each session, I saw improvement in my cousin’s speech; that is when I truly knew I wanted to be that clinician. In addition to the classes taken in my undergraduate degree, I sought volunteer experiences to …show more content…
Regarding cultural diversity in our field, the cultural diversity of clinicians within our area needs to be significantly improved. A study found that 92% of Speech-Langauge Pathologists identify as White, and 8% of SLPs identify as Asian, Black, or Multiracial (ASHA, 2019). Given this statistic, there is an increasing need for multiracial/culturally diverse clinicians to improve access to speech care. For example, increasing racial/ethnic diversity in the field can provide greater cultural awareness of differences in speech, learning styles, and treatment preferences. Currently, our field's lack of cultural diversity highlights the importance of future clinicians willing to advocate for different cultures. I hope to advocate for these different cultures, particularly the Asian community, where I can rely on my Filipino-American background and connect with families of immigrant