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Speechies bond beyond the classroom

January 01, 2020

Ouachita is such a sweet and special place to call home, and this place means even more to me because of the close-knit community I find within the communication sciences and disorders program. It is so neat to see how our program includes different personality types, different backgrounds, different involvement on campus and different goals, but the thing that we all have in common is being able to claim the title of “speechies.” What a joy and honor it is to be a communication sciences and disorders major at Ouachita.

At times I think people on campus think that we are a social club because of how much time we spend together and how close-knit our department is. Although our focus is on our classes, we love to spend time together both in the classroom and out!

Our activities range from a pond party and senior dinner at our professors’ homes and a campus-wide Christmas tree lighting in the middle of Ouachita’s campus to service learning efforts like an operation Christmas child packing party, volunteering at Special Olympics and participating in autism awareness week where we “Light it up blue!” I especially appreciate our speechie community when we come together and serve with each other.

It is so fun to not only get to do class with these people but also to do practicum alongside each other. It allows us to take what we are learning about in the classroom and apply it to our own clients. Although it is a bit nerve-wracking at times, we are so lucky that we have the opportunity to gain this hands-on experience!

It is so life-giving to be able to apply what you are learning in the classroom directly to your therapy session and have supervisors that guide you when planning and preparing for your sessions. I’m so thankful that I get to make a difference in the lives of my clients even now as an undergraduate. This field is so rewarding! Because of the experiences that I am gaining during my time here at Ouachita, I feel confident in my future no matter what that might look like.

Haley Jo WessonBy Haley Jo Wesson, a senior communication sciences and disorders major from Hot Springs, Ark.

 

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