How can I continue to forge my professional and academic development? How might I inquire (research) into my learning in an ongoing manner? How might my professional and academic development and practice be informed by my ongoing research? How do I respond to opportunities for inquiry (research)? How do I meet my own learning needs?

Well let me start by WOW!!! That’s a lot of questions.

The communication disorder program has definitely taught me how important information is. I have been taught that it is imperative that I continue on this learning road. Because to me that’s what learning is a road.

This question also made me think about the conference we attended last year. As I think back about the seminars we attended I remember my feelings then. I thought this is great for students because there is only so much you can learn in the classroom and actually being able to attend a conference did make an impact on my learning. I know that our class has been told over and over about breath support and how crucial it is to voice. But it really didn’t hit home until I was sitting there listening to this man talk about the Lee Silverman Voice Therapy Program. I was thinking oh man I wish I were working so I could try this on someone.

I do understand how important learning will be to my professional and academic development. I mean what if some great technique for therapy is developed and I’ve chosen to stop learning then I won’t find out about it. This would lead to a violation of the code of ethics because I haven’t maintained my highest level of professional competence. It will be my duty to continue developing my knowledge and skills so that I can better serve my clients. A hunger for knowledge is just a given for SLP’s. So I plan on taking every opportunity to update and share my knowledge even after I graduate. It’s not only in the best interest of my clients but also myself as a person. I feel I can be a better person because of learning.

Geneva