Emma Katkowsky, a senior majoring in Communicative Sciences and Disorders,- re-affirmed her desire to become a speech language pathologist (SLP) during her summer internship at Small Talk Center for Speech, Language, and Occupational Therapy.
Her typical day-to-day consisted of observing speech therapy sessions and assisting therapists with administrative tasks.
“This internship allowed me to gain real-life exposure to the career of a pediatric SLP,” Katkowsky said. "In turn, this provided me with essentials skills, not only for a Speech Pathologist, but for life.”
A highlight of the summer for Katkowsky was a special bond she formed with one of the patients she saw on a weekly basis.
“I observed many of [his] sessions over the course of the summer and was able to develop a strong rapport,” Katkowsky said. “I loved seeing how excited he was to come into therapy and see ‘Miss Emma.’”
Katkowsky believes that the experience she gained from this internship will equip her to better navigate and approach future workplace scenarios.
“I learned the importance of patience, how every child has their own unique needs and how crucial it is to be flexible and adaptable for the benefit of our client,” Katkowsky said.
For Katkowsky, this experience only intensified her passion for becoming a speech language pathologist, especially being able build relationships with clients and how excited they are to see her.
“In my future, I hope to create a space for children to feel just as welcome and comfortable,” Katkowsky said. “I think having a strong rapport is crucial to achieving goals in therapy.”
After wrapping up her internship, Katkowsky has advice she would like to leave for those who are also interested in Cognitive Science.
“One piece of advice I would give someone wanting to pursue an internship in this field would be to seek out hands-on experience and build strong connections,” Katkowsky said.
By Olivia Austin