1. Believe in yourself!
You did it! You have been accepted into a graduate program because YOU deserve it. You are smart, talented, hard-working, and you have earned this. I know it’s so easy to feel imposter syndrome when you begin grad school, but don’t let yourself forget about all of the work you put in to get here. Be proud of yourself and don’t doubt the work you put in to get where you are today. Having confidence in yourself will help you so much when it comes to working with your first client, taking your first exam, and dealing with all of the challenges that you will soon face. Remember that all SLPs were once in your shoes, and your peers most likely feel the exact same way! Believe in yourself and your abilities. You were chosen for a reason and you can do it. I know it seems overwhelming and seems like you’ll never figure it out, but you will get there. Have confidence that you will succeed and be an amazing SLP!
2. It’s okay to feel lost
As George O’Malley once said, “who here feels like they have no idea what they‘re doing?” And the answer is, EVERYONE! All the time. It is completely normal to feel lost in grad school, you are learning so much so fast and it can feel overwhelming. I still sometimes feel like I have no idea what I’m doing! You aren’t expected to know what to do, that’s why you’re in school! BUT – do not be afraid to ask for help. Not understanding a new concept or having trouble making a therapy plan for a new client is nothing to be ashamed of, you have so many peers and professors around you that would love to help you out. (Plus, spending time with your professors in office hours can help you build relationships that will help you in the long run!) Let google be your friend, there are so many resources online that can help you with what you need. Just don’t forget about all of the resources right in front of you at school. Your professors want to help. Also, you most likely have access to tons of books and research articles that can help you out as well! Grad school is expensive, don’t forget to utilize the tools it provides!
3. You don’t have to have it all figured out
When you first meet your peers in grad school, you might notice that some of them seem to know exactly what they want to do after graduating with their Master’s degree. It feels like everyone is saying things like: “I am going to be an SLP focussing on memory and cognition at the traumatic brain injury center for adults,” “I am going to be an SLP focusing on feeding and swallowing with premies in the NICU,” and the list goes on and on. It is possible that they could be right and go on to get a job doing exactly what they said they would do – but chances are they will change their minds. It’s overwhelming to hear things like this, especially if you have no clue what you want to do after graduation, but you know what? You don’t have to know! The beautiful thing about our field is that you don’t have to make a choice when you start school, or even after you get your first job. You can change your mind as many times as you want until you find where you fit best! SO many of my friends changed their minds, almost all of my friends that started grad school saying they wanted to work with adults ended up loving pediatrics and got a job with kids, and vic versa. Don’t be pressured into feeling like you have to make a decision today, you have SO much time to figure it out! Also, maybe you do think you know exactly what you want to do. That’s great! I’m so happy for you that you already know what you’re passionate about. Just don’t forget to keep an open mind as you start your externships because you never know, you just might change your mind too!
4. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself
If you’re anything like me, you have always had a voice in the back of your head shouting, “you HAVE to be perfect!” For as long as I can remember, I put so much pressure on myself to get straight A’s, pass every test, join every club, and have a social life at the same time. My stress tank was filled to the rim, and my happiness tank was constantly on empty. Yes, you want to try your hardest to maintain good grades and pass your exams, however, it is okay if you don’t get straight A’s. It is okay if you have to retake a test, or even a class. Grad school is hard and no one expects you to be perfect. Instead of pressuring yourself to be perfect, spend your time enjoying your classes, understanding the material to better yourself as a future SLP, and learning what kind of therapist you want to be. Of course you can hope to succeed along the way, but taking the pressure off of yourself will ultimately result in a more successful grad school career.
5. Have fun!
I remember thinking all the time in grad school, “I can’t wait to be done! I can’t wait to be paid! I can’t wait to not have to study anymore!” These might all be exciting things, and trust me – it is so nice not having to study for exams anymore – but, counting down the days until you graduate and land your first job as an SLP is going to do nothing but steal your joy. Grad school is such an amazing time, where you learn SO much and have so much help available to you at all times. You get to see all sorts of clientele in various settings and do it all with a class full of peers that are right there with you. Soak up the next two years of your life, because trust me, you will miss having someone holding your hand when you step into the real world (and you will miss all of the friends you have made being by your side 24/7!)
— Courtney B SLP