A topic of interest for me is the idea that something needs to be done to make sure that we, meaning this country, does not leave anyone one out when it comes to intervention in speech and language. I think I mentioned this in class one day last semester, but I would like to have a clinic that is federally funded to take care of those financially and insurance deprived clients that would otherwise go with out services. If not the clinic, then at least start an advocacy program for such persons. I may just have a soft spot for people denied health services because they lack the means to pay for it. It should be unconstitutionally wrong or something. Anyway thats what I have set in my mind to do, of course after I work for awhile.

My essential question is: How do we make speech and language intervention available, or at least advocate, for 100% intervention to all people who require services, either through insurance companies or federal funding?

Meeting my learning needs can tend to be a complex process. I usually like to sit down and review hard copies of all available information on the topic I am researching, then develop a theme. From that theme, I then ask people questions and their insight on the topic. This is where it gets hairy. Sometimes, there may not be anyone to answer my questions, then I feel slightly insecure, but I pick myself back up by re-reading the hard copies of information. Yet, to be a continuing learner, a person must break away from stereotypes and influences of other people, and begin to dig deep within to discipline themselves to initiate learning. Once you have the desire to learn and have a clear idea about what you are learning, then others opinions on topics tend to be only their opinions. Of course, we may like their thoughts and may add them to our thoughts, but if we are true learners, we tend to stick with our own ideas no matter what.

I feel it is important to stay on top of your field, no matter what it is, in the ways of information and new resources. If I only take what I learn at Marshall University and never reach beyond that pool of information to engage in new resources, then my practice will go to a point, plateau and, in the long run, sink. That is why our field is full of continuing education opportunities because life changes, people change.

Therefore, I would venture to say tha in order to meet my learning needs I have to realize that a need exists, which anyone with a sound mind should have a need to continually learn. Once the realization occurs to me, then I am ready to begin my search to find out everything possible on my topic. From a professional standpoint, I would assume that clinicians feel overwhelmed by their work plus continuing education, but in the end feel good about themselves knowing that because of that education, the quality of life for another individual will improve.

Now this is a topic that I can write forever on. My mother and father both attended college, but my father is a coal miner and my mother is a teacher. Of course, all of my life they always pushed me to the limit in school, due to its importance in me attaining a position of work in todays society. I attended every academic function and participated most of the time. Of course, academics to my parents is supposed to be a mix of learning and fun. I have to say that if it had not been for the other activities outside of school that my parents had me in to sort of balance my life, I would have got burn out my first semester of college. It sounds like my parents were strict with my academic life, and they were to an extent, but not to the point that academics was the talk of every dinner conversation. I think my participation in academic functions had something to do with the fact that my mother worked in the school system and in my hometown, the teachers have some level of dignity to maintain and they do so by pushing their child out in the forefront.

One value that was passed on to me, and I will probably pass on to my children, is the idea that education is ultimately only what YOU make of it. Someone my slide by in high school, but when it comes to the real world, that slider is going to be stuck in the lifes complex web. Given that idea, I took off for college and I am finally realizing that the statement mentioned before is proving itself everyday. Half of the class I graduated with are struggling because they are married, have children and, worst of all, no job.

I think by seeing the effects of wanting to grow up too soon and not give a higher education a chance has made me realize that my parents were not really pushing me to try to make me mad at them (which it did plenty of times), but rather give me the ability to live, think and do for myself and, this is the kicker, have a decent job so I wont have to labor as hard as they did. As a result, my practice as a student is one of stepping back and taking every opportunity to think out every question and action I am posed with.