Scholarship Program

Scholarship Essay Winner #1: “I Truly Want To Make a Difference” By Kristina McCreesh

When thinking about what qualities an ideal Speech-Language Pathologist should possess, many characteristics come to mind. A Speech-Language Pathologist should be flexible, creative, patient, dedicated and organized. He or she should also have a strong interest in helping others, the ability to communicate well with clients and be able to interact with colleagues. I believe that I possess all of the above traits and will one day have a positive impact on the Speech-Language Pathology profession. My dedication to education, desire to make a difference and motivation to succeed are leading factors in why I should be awarded this prestigious scholarship. I truly want to make a difference.

Having a good foundation in education is very important to my success as a student clinician and future Speech-Language Pathologist. I work hard scholastically to receive good grades while focusing extra time and energy on learning how I can better myself professionally. I am also financially responsible for my education. Therefore, I not only attend school full time but work 30 hours a week in various part time jobs, am the treasurer of Kutztown University’s chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association and am a member of two honor societies on campus. My busy schedule has provided me with many skills that are beneficial to Speech-Language Pathologists such as time management, flexibility and prioritization.

Since the age of thirteen I have had the pleasure of working in a softball pitching clinic teaching young girls proper mechanics. The sense of accomplishment I feel from helping them succeed initially cultivated my love for helping children. My strong desire to teach children led me to pursue a degree in Elementary Education, Special Education and English at Albright College. During my Early Field Experience I was placed in an integrated Kindergarten classroom. While in the classroom I saw first hand the lack of support for children with disabilities due to not having enough staff to meet all of their needs. These children were mainstreamed into a “regular” classroom and were not getting the total amount of individualized therapy they needed. To me, there is nothing better than working with children who have a disability, especially with disabilities that inhibit communication. As Speech-Language Pathologists, it is our job to help children effectively communicate with others. My passion for children and desire to help them truly motivates me to work hard and make a difference in their lives.

Throughout my life, my parents have given me an insurmountable amount of encouragement and support. They have never let me say “I can’t” or quit anything that I started. These values have been instilled in me since birth and are a key component in my motivation to succeed. One goal of mine as a future Speech-Language Pathologist is to infuse these same values in my clients. I will give them the opportunity to have all the help and motivation they need to reach their full potential. I feel so fortunate to have had such a positive and loving upbringing and feel that it is now my turn to pass on that same “can do” attitude to others.

I firmly believe that I should be awarded the Northeastern Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Pennsylvania Year 2008 Scholarship because of my dedication to education, desire to make a difference and motivation to succeed. For me, the greatest feeling in the world is seeing a child finally accomplish a goal that they have been struggling with for some time. Seeing the priceless look of triumph on their face and knowing that I had been a small part in that child’s success epitomizes all the hard work and dedication that I have invested over the years.

Scholarship Essay Winner #2: By David Flynn

Throughout my life, I have continuously been motivated to have an impact on those around me. My experiences have taught me that the most rewarding feelings come from helping others. While continuing my college education, my goals have remained steadfast for the future. After receiving my degree, I will aim to make an effective influence in my profession, on my colleagues, and for my clients.

First of all, I want to make an impact on individuals who are trying to determine an area of study that interests them. I can recall my senior year of high school, when I was unsure of my future plans. When given the opportunity to observe audiologists in a professional setting, I was able to discover an interest that I was not aware I had. I am so grateful for the observations I witnessed because they helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life. Upon reaching my goal of becoming an audiologist, I certainly want to continue this generosity and have an impact on young students. A somewhat uncommon field, audiology is a fascinating area of study that uses mathematics, science, and technology in such a way to benefit others. I feel it is extremely important to offer information, advice, or a day of observation to promote the interest of the profession.

In addition to assisting students, I hope to one day specialize in cochlear implants and help infants and their caretakers. It fascinates me to see the technological advancements in this area continue to grow. Living in a time period with these capabilities, it would be amazing to teach parents about the extreme benefits of cochlear implants. Being somewhat partial to infants, there is a part of me that wants to touch their lives’ in a special way. Through the rehabilitation process, I hope to make an impact on families by increasing the communication pathway between parents and their children.

Furthermore, there are other areas of audiology that I have an interest in and want to experience. I hope to one day open a private practice and offer my qualified services to the surrounding area. The idea of running a business is certainly exciting and allows for an individual to give back to the community. With my determination, I want to affect patients in a positive way by supplying them with great products, value, and customer service. Most importantly, I want to be an audiologist who my patients find trustworthy, reliable, and knowledgeable. Providing the best services is important to promote the profession and the business.

Finally, another detail that I hope one day I might be able to have an impact on is the educational requirements for audiology in the undergraduate program. As an undergraduate student interested in audiology, I believe that more classes would be an asset to the curriculum. Not only would it increase the interest of students and assure their choice of major, but more audiology courses would allow better preparation for the graduate program. I hope that one day I might be able to assist in supplying undergraduate students with the opportunity that many college students have to learn and study more course material of their interest.

In conclusion, being an ambitious individual, I find the field of audiology a perfect fit for my personality. There are so many options in this field that I want to continue to explore when I graduate. I have always been driven to accomplish my goals and there are many achievements I will pursue upon graduation. By continuing to work hard, learning from my experiences, and caring for my profession and the people I serve, I hope that one day I will make an impact.