The field of speech pathology is very broad and covers a wide array of subject areas. The 9 subject areas can provide treatment for most children and adults who suffer from some type of communication disorder. Being recognized as competent in all 9 areas seems almost a little unfair to our profession. While many of the topics have been introduced, elaborated, and tested on, I do not feel as though I am competent in every area. I do not feel as though I could ethically assess and treat all areas at this point in my career. Throughout my lifespan, I feel that with enough research and experience I would feel comfortable assessing and treating in all 9 areas. I feel that with experience and exposure one can gain the appropriate knowledge and skills to be competent in areas. 

When it comes to confidence I have areas that I feel more confident about than others. Feeling confident about subject areas and being ethically confident are two different things. Feeling confident about performing a certain procedure without being competent can be dangerous or hazardous to patient. Confidence is an important part of this profession because it allows others to gain trust in you as a clinician. 

If I had to name my strengths and weaknesses as a "new" SLP , I feel that my strengths include areas of cognition, articulation/phonology, and language. After working in the school system for 5 years this is something that I did daily. At first, I felt very uncomfortable with treating and assessing language and articulation but once I gained exposure I also gained confidence.  My areas of weaknesses include fluency and voice. Because these areas are so objective it is hard to gain mastery in these areas. The areas related directly to science like voice and dysphagia are constantly changing and it is important for the SLP to stay up to date on the latest research in order to continue to provide evidence based practices.  With any job I feel that a SLP should "play" on their strengths and work on improving their weaknesses. 

Joining a Special Interest Group??

Special Interest Groups offered by ASHA are a great way to build skills in areas that one may not be comfortable with already.  I feel that Special Interest Groups or SIG membership are easy to pick based on your interest or current occupation at the time. AFter reviewing the list, I feel that I would chose to join SIG 18: Gerontology.  I have already accepted a job in home health services after graduation.  After working in the school system for 5 years I am very comfortable with my skills with children but not with my adult skills.  I feel that many programs in Speech language pathology mostly focus on child development and only brush lightly on gerontology. 
Understanding that basic aging affects speech, language, and hearing can help a speech pathologist to offer better services that will evoke better outcomes. SIG 18 provides the latest information on factors that affect aging adults and their communication skills. Information for specialized techniques for working with geriatric patients with cognitive disorders and swallowing disorders are also provided through membership in a special interest group. 
One of the biggest areas that I feel my skills lack is understanding Medicare. Many of the patients that I will be seeing are Medicare patients. Medicare is constantly changing and being knowledgeable about how the process works is important for completing paperwork and necessary procedures. 

Another SIG group that I would be interested in is SIG 13: Dysphagia and Swallowing Disorders. The adult population has a wide variety of dysphagia patients. Understanding that one technique doesn't work for all patients leads SLP's to other practices. Working with geriatric patients, I will need to be up to date on the latest practices and procedures in order to provide the best practice for my patients. Collaborating with other professionals about swallowing disorders may help me to become more knowledgeable about the subject and help to understand what each patient needs. 

Approaching the last few weeks of my education calls for a time of reflection. As I look back over the last couple of years, I reflect on my journey to become a speech language pathologist.  The following quotes describe the feelings and emotions that accompany my adventure. 

All your hard work will soon pay off
                       ~Fortune Cookie

When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and stop asking questions, always new questions, then it is time to die.
                     ~Lillian Smith

All things are difficult before they are easy.
                   ~Thomas Fuller

Be prepared.
                  ~Boy Scout Motto

I chose these quotes which seem to describe my experience in the journey of becoming a speech pathologist.  The first quote received from a fortune cookie was perhaps the main reason I was able to keep going each week. Knowing that I would soon be rewarded for all of my hard work helped me to understand the importance of pushing forward.  Appreciating yourself and all of your hard work is the only thing that helped me to be successful in graduate school while tackling a full-time job, full-time graduate school, and running a household. As I approach the last few weeks of my education I can see how everything is coming together. 

The second quote by Lillian Smith describes the continuos learning cycle that we must pursue throughout the course of our lives. A speech pathologist must realize that their education is never finished. An important part of this occupation is continuing to learn and gather new information.  Staying on top of the latest practices and trends will help me to provide my patients with the highest level of care that will be beneficial.
The third quote, "All things are difficult before they are easy"describes the experiences that I have endured through my schooling.  Some of the practices and procedures used to intimidate me and seemed very difficult until I learned how to do them and was able to achieve competency in areas. Believing in yourself and gaining confidence is very important in this line of work for the purpose of serving your clients in an accurate way.
The final quote represents the Boy Scout Motto. This motto is so important for every aspect of life and I feel that it sums up how speech pathologist should feel each time they walk into a room. Being prepared physically and mentally provided a stable foundation for the SLP to build from. Physical preparation can include the use of materials, test protocols, and supplies while mental preparation is important for understanding what you will do with the client and how it will be effective in the role of treatment.