by Erik Raj, M.S., CCC-SLP

I believe that sometimes we speech-language pathologists forget how much of a positive difference we make in the lives of those we work together with. In an attempt to remind myself just how special this field is and how we clinicians are helping to create the next generation of beautiful communicators, I have started doing a simple visualization exercise. Every single day at lunch, before I open my water bottle, I take a few seconds to imagine some of the wonderful things that I know are happening, at that very moment, in a random speech therapy room somewhere.
Today, I thought about the following 7 wonderful things . . .

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just correctly produced her target sound in isolation for the first time ever.

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just gave a flawless 5 minute presentation in front of his class, and he nailed every /R/ sound for the first time ever.

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just successfully followed a tricky three-step direction independently for the first time ever.

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just recalled all of the factual details of a complex story for the first time ever.

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just spontaneously used a new vocabulary word appropriately in conversation for the first time ever.

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just terminated a conversation meaningfully and politely for the first time ever.

• Somewhere, a speech therapy student just looked into the eyes of his clinician and said, “I love coming to speech!” for the first time ever.

Now it is YOUR turn . . .
Will you think of this blog post tomorrow during your lunch break? Will you take a few seconds to imagine some of the wonderful things happening, at that very moment, in a random speech therapy room somewhere? I really hope
you do.
Featured Contributor: Erik X. Raj, M.S., CCC-SLP
Erik X. Raj, M.S., CCC-SLP is a practicing speech-language pathologist and app developer living in Detroit, Michigan.   Originally from Jackson, New Jersey, he received his B.S. from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and was awarded a M.S. from Misericrodia University.
You can learn about Erik’s apps for speech-language therapy and read his blog on erikxraj.com
 
During his free time, Erik enjoys visiting the best museums, art galleries, and Thai restaurants around.