The graduate clinicians continue to amaze me everyday with their energy, flexibility, and curiosity. It’s difficult to put into words how much this trip has meant to all of us but below are a few thoughts to capture it:
“To have been able to be a part of this independent study in Querétaro, México has been a true gift. I have learned so much about myself and about the field of speech and language therapy in Mexico. I feel that I have created invaluable relationships through my interactions with professionals, clients and people in the community. To be embraced in the Mexican culture is to feel completely accepted. It has been an entirely welcoming environment for honing my clinical and Spanish language skills.”
-Datie
“These three weeks have been life-changing for me personally. As a clinician, I plan on working with families and children who speak Spanish as a bilingual speech language pathologist, and learning the terminology in our Spanish classes has allowed me to acquire the language needed to provide services for these families. I now feel more prepared to work with this population and look forward to putting everything I’ve learned into practice. It has been my dream for a long time to work with this population and going abroad to Mexico, providing services at Gigi’s Playhouse and Andale, has made this dream come true. Although I am a native Spanish speaker, I learned a lot more than I expected by actually working with these children, their families, teachers, and Mexican speech language pathologists. I am forever grateful and will definitely be coming back to Mexico in the future after this trip!
-Genesis
So far, being in Mexico has shaped my professional and clinical skills in a way that is indescribable. I always wanted to explore the world of speech-language pathology in other countries, and this trip has allowed for me to make that vision more concrete. Not only am I returning as a clinician with increased skills in two languages, but also as a clinician who will be actively thinking about how to make an impact on communities within my country of residence and abroad.”
-Jessica
“This experience and the value it has brought to my clinical and academic training in indescribable. There is something so special and valuable in forming genuine bonds with people who value the same human right to communication and connection that you do. It is also something beyond words, when you are in a new environment, using a different language and feel this sense of home, and welcome. Mexico is a magical place made so by its incredible people. Everything I have been able to learn here I will carry and use with me for my entire career.”
-Sara
