I couldn't possibly go to University at my age... Why you shouldn't be afraid to become a mature speech and language therapy student.

Going to University as a mature student is a big decision to make. It has financial and time implications and could also impact on friends and family.  It is daunting to face studying and revision for exams all over again. What if you fail? 

However, there are many upsides to being a mature student as you probably already possess many more transferable skills than you realise.

Ability to organise

Everyone has different ways of organising themselves. Anyone who lives independently, looks after a family or is employed will have learnt what techniques work for them. Whether this be a diary, post-it notes or copious to-do lists. This will be a huge advantage when juggling studying and assignments.

Being able to talk to people

Mature students have usually had more experience of meeting different people from different walks of life.  Even if you are naturally shy, the day to day experiences of adult life will have meant you have developed coping strategies when thrown into new situations.  This not only makes it easier to make friends on the course but will also help you contribute to lectures and will be a real asset on clinical placement.

You can take a flexible view

As you go through life you realise that you can learn about situations but that life doesn't always play by the book. This can help when you learn that individuals don't fit into neat boxes and that professionals can have different views on almost everything.  It will also make you more understanding towards parents and carers.

You will appreciate the support available at University

From the lecturers who will give extra tutorials, to the library staff who will talk you through accessing journal articles, it is lovely to be in an environment where people will help you. This is not something that we always experience in the workplace, so you will be more likely to seize these opportunities and really appreciate them. 

There’s mature and then there's mature

Don't worry about being the only mature student on your course. You will be amazed at the age range of speech and language therapy students. From 18 year olds through to 50+ year olds. But everyone has something in common - the desire to work as a speech and language therapist.

And finally...

You get discounts

While you will be studying because you are passionate about becoming a speech and language therapist, a student discount card is a lovely bonus and takes some of the guilt out of buying fancy stationery.

Becoming a mature student is daunting, particularly as speech and language therapy is a very demanding course, but it might just be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. 

Written by a brave lady who took the plunge and does not regret it!

The challenges of a speech and language therapy student

by Gemma Biles

Recently Libby contacted me and asked me if I would like a chance to write a guest blog for the Smart Talkers blog and without a second thought I jumped at the opportunity. Then I realised I had no idea what to blog about. When discussing this with friends they said “Gemma, isn’t your blog about the challenges you have as a SLT student? Why don’t you write about your experiences in a way that reassures other SLT Students that they aren’t alone in this”. So my experiences as a SLT student didn’t start the day I begin this degree, it all started with the day I wanted to become a SLT. 

Back in 2004 when I was 15, I went to a careers day intending to listen to a woman talk about her experiences as a teacher. The thought of working with 30 children everyday made me nervous and doubt this was the career for me. It was at this point of doubt that a lovely lady took to the stage and stated "I am a speech and language pathologist, I work 1:1 with children" - anything more she had to say was interesting yet irrelevant, she already had me at her opening line. So over the years doing my GCSEs and A Levels I worked with many children within the disability sector and shadowed many SLTs attempting to gain experience in order to apply for my place on a SLT degree programme. 2 years ago I had the opportunity to sit for an interview for a place on a degree programme, and I can safely say that was the last time I felt confident that I knew what it was to be a SLT. I was asked questions that I had no answer to and posed scenarios that I was unaware were SLT related. When I found out I had a place on the course I was gobsmacked. Now 15 months in to my course I realise that not having an answer to something does not mean you are any less of an SLT. The same feeling of lack of confidence and uncertainty in my answers has occurred over and over, both in lessons and on placement. These moments have however been more of a learning curve than the moments when I did feel confident and did know the answer, and these are what have defined me as a SLT student. 

I recently read a quote by Bruce et al. (2005) who stated that students should be "thrown in the deep end" in order to develop SLT skills and I can safely say that a degree in SLT does just this. On a recent placement I admitted that I had a lot of observation experience and little hands on experience, I was then given a “caseload” and asked to go away and informally assess, formally assess, write therapy programmes and discuss all this with other professionals. Well at the time I can safely say I was drowning - but now in hindsight, that was the best opportunity I have had throughout my 15 months as a SLT student. I was pushed and challenged beyond belief. But more importantly I realised I COULD be a SLT and that I was more likely to be able to survive when I wasn’t being “hand-held”. At the end of this placement I discussed how I had felt with a wonderful SLT that had supported me over the 5 weeks and asked her how it was she managed to be so competent in so many areas, having recently graduated herself. 

She gave me some knowledge that has been beyond reassuring and continuously useful – “always know your evidence base, always be critical in your decision making and more than anything, always be the swan – graceful on top, paddling like mad underneath, never let anyone see how fast your feet are paddling”. It is at this point that I am about to begin my first placement of my 2nd year – where I have no doubt that I will begin my first day saying “I would like a chance to get hands on” and I would encourage any SLT/SLP2B to tell their placement educators this, no matter how scary it may seem! I’m sure I shall be endlessly tweeting and blogging my swan like paddling throughout this placement in January 2013 – so follow me @GemSLT or view my blog at http://speechandlanguagethera-peers.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Reference Bruce, C. Parker, A. and Herbert, R. (2005) ‘The Development of a Self-Directed and Peer-based Clinical Training Programme’ International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 36(Suppl) 401-405.