1
00:00:00,820 -->
00:00:03,530
Welcome to Digication
Scholars Conversations.
2
00:00:03,720 -->
00:00:05,399
I'm your host, Kelly Driscoll.
3
00:00:05,620 -->
00:00:09,570
In this episode, you'll hear part
two of my conversation with Sharron
4
00:00:09,590 -->
00:00:14,410
Huang, recent graduate of Stony Brook
University, where she received a BA in
5
00:00:14,410 -->
00:00:18,970
Linguistics, an MA in teaching English
to speakers of other languages, and
6
00:00:18,970 -->
00:00:21,340
an MS in Speech Language Pathology.
7
00:00:21,975 -->
00:00:26,785
More links and information about today's
conversation can be found on Digication's
8
00:00:26,875 -->
00:00:28,895
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
9
00:00:29,015 -->
00:00:32,985
Full episodes of Digication Scholars
Conversations can be found on
10
00:00:32,995 -->
00:00:35,675
YouTube or your favorite podcast app.
11
00:00:37,995 -->
00:00:44,365
You did an extraordinary job sharing
the clinical experiences that I
12
00:00:44,365 -->
00:00:52,015
think, you know, would be so relevant
in them making decisions about who
13
00:00:52,015 -->
00:00:54,165
is going to kind of go to the next.
14
00:00:54,880 -->
00:00:59,250
level, you know, beyond just viewing
the resumes, who are they going
15
00:00:59,250 -->
00:01:03,170
to make initial contact to, who is
going to make it to the, you know,
16
00:01:03,180 -->
00:01:07,670
various rounds of interviews that
I'm sure happen, who becomes in that
17
00:01:07,690 -->
00:01:10,020
final list of candidates to consider.
18
00:01:10,720 -->
00:01:15,960
So, um, and alongside all of these
clinical experiences you had, something
19
00:01:15,960 -->
00:01:24,405
that we don't always see in, um, these
kinds of professional portfolios is
20
00:01:24,405 -->
00:01:29,025
that you had a section where you were
including recommendation letters.
21
00:01:29,395 -->
00:01:36,095
So people have a chance, you know,
to get some kind of boots on the
22
00:01:36,095 -->
00:01:40,264
ground information about what it was
like working with you too from other
23
00:01:40,264 -->
00:01:46,184
people before they even, you know,
maybe invite you in for an interview.
24
00:01:46,194 -->
00:01:50,260
What was it like for you to
kind of contact people that you
25
00:01:50,260 -->
00:01:55,490
are interested in including a
recommendation on your portfolio.
26
00:01:55,690 -->
00:01:56,570
Yeah, absolutely.
27
00:01:56,570 -->
00:02:01,939
So if you do go to my Digication for
all the listeners, like I have quite
28
00:02:01,940 -->
00:02:04,349
a number of recommendation letters.
29
00:02:04,660 -->
00:02:07,050
Um, I, I, I don't have anything.
30
00:02:07,260 -->
00:02:08,210
I'm happy to share them.
31
00:02:08,540 -->
00:02:13,790
Um, so like I said before, like I've,
Quite, quite amount of involvement
32
00:02:13,790 -->
00:02:17,310
throughout, um, my time at Stony Brook.
33
00:02:17,310 -->
00:02:22,550
So I was able to be real, very close with
my academic, um, professors and whatnot.
34
00:02:22,550 -->
00:02:25,669
So like they were happy to write me a
letter of recommendation, especially
35
00:02:25,680 -->
00:02:30,499
in such a close knit, um, cohort
and program as Stony Brook's, uh,
36
00:02:30,499 -->
00:02:32,330
speech language pathology masters.
37
00:02:32,330 -->
00:02:39,420
Like we are, we were quite a - a tight
- quite small cohort of just 29 students.
38
00:02:39,709 -->
00:02:47,880
I was also, um On the, the leadership
board for, um, our cohort as well.
39
00:02:47,880 -->
00:02:52,330
So that, that helped definitely get me
very close with a lot of our professors
40
00:02:52,330 -->
00:02:56,730
as I would always like often go to like
office hours or I'd stay behind and
41
00:02:56,730 -->
00:02:58,859
help out as a student assistant too.
42
00:02:59,279 -->
00:03:02,670
So luckily I was able to get really close
with them and they were happy to write
43
00:03:02,670 -->
00:03:04,220
me a letter of recommendation as well.
44
00:03:04,695 -->
00:03:09,785
So they were, of course, happy to do it,
and with it being a relatively new program
45
00:03:09,785 -->
00:03:15,115
as well, um, they were, like, our success
is their success, and that, I think, is
46
00:03:15,125 -->
00:03:20,374
also why I chose to come back to Stony
Brook, because I, I had other choices.
47
00:03:20,374 -->
00:03:23,604
I was thinking about, like, whether or not
I wanted to stay back in the city, because
48
00:03:23,604 -->
00:03:25,395
I had already moved back to Brooklyn.
49
00:03:26,175 -->
00:03:30,755
Um, and I considered staying in the city
and applying to, I did apply to other,
50
00:03:31,095 -->
00:03:37,585
um, speech programs within the city, but
I knew that, like, I personally had Dr.
51
00:03:37,585 -->
00:03:43,664
Fabus, who's the head of the program, um,
I had taken her classes as a pre-speech
52
00:03:43,894 -->
00:03:49,485
track student, um, in the summers and in
the winters, um, so being able to, like,
53
00:03:49,485 -->
00:03:54,245
have that personal experience with her,
and I know how much she's invested into
54
00:03:54,245 -->
00:03:56,135
the program and invested in our success.
55
00:03:56,335 -->
00:03:59,935
I, I knew she would be happy to
write a letter of recommendation,
56
00:03:59,935 -->
00:04:03,775
especially with how, how involved
I was with the program and how she
57
00:04:03,825 -->
00:04:05,755
really would love us to see us succeed.
58
00:04:06,320 -->
00:04:10,120
So, academic recommendations,
they were all super fantastic.
59
00:04:10,740 -->
00:04:14,470
The externship recommendations were
actually my clinical professor's idea.
60
00:04:14,740 -->
00:04:19,449
Um, she highly encouraged all of us
to ask for one immediately at, towards
61
00:04:19,449 -->
00:04:25,890
the end of our externship, so that way
we weren't asking for a recommendation
62
00:04:25,890 -->
00:04:28,210
from someone we haven't seen in a year.
63
00:04:28,290 -->
00:04:30,320
Now, while you're fresh in their minds.
64
00:04:30,330 -->
00:04:31,360
Yeah, exactly.
65
00:04:31,360 -->
00:04:32,002
Exactly.
66
00:04:32,002 -->
00:04:32,644
So.
67
00:04:32,655 -->
00:04:38,235
So, um, luckily I've had amazing,
wonderful externship experiences.
68
00:04:38,245 -->
00:04:45,194
I had, um, my very first one at the
United Cerebral Palsy and that was
69
00:04:45,195 -->
00:04:50,325
really my first experience working with
a medically complex community, especially
70
00:04:50,365 -->
00:04:52,725
amongst, uh, student populations.
71
00:04:53,075 -->
00:04:56,505
And that is actually very similar to
where I work in now when I work with,
72
00:04:56,755 -->
00:05:01,285
um, students who have special needs and
having that exposure genuinely is...
73
00:05:01,465 -->
00:05:07,585
I believe that's why I got the position
that I have now, um, and she was happy
74
00:05:07,794 -->
00:05:09,455
to write me a letter of recommendation.
75
00:05:09,784 -->
00:05:14,144
Uh, I worked in outpatient private
practice and that was super great.
76
00:05:14,384 -->
00:05:18,054
Like being able to collect these
experiences and look back so fondly,
77
00:05:18,054 -->
00:05:19,954
I'm very lucky to be able to do that.
78
00:05:20,134 -->
00:05:24,224
And then my last, my last externship
was in the New York City DOE and
79
00:05:24,224 -->
00:05:29,284
that was actually very last minute
opportunity where I was almost assigned
80
00:05:29,284 -->
00:05:32,319
to A school district on Long Island.
81
00:05:32,609 -->
00:05:36,809
But my clinical professor knew that
I wanted to come back home for us.
82
00:05:36,809 -->
00:05:39,659
And she knew that the DOE
was always a goal for me.
83
00:05:39,659 -->
00:05:46,479
So she very, very nicely and graciously
pulled some strings and had our contract
84
00:05:46,509 -->
00:05:49,369
early so that I was able to do it
because she was gonna have it done
85
00:05:49,369 -->
00:05:53,769
for the following cohort just based
off of like the timing and everything
86
00:05:53,769 -->
00:05:57,289
and and naturally with the program
being on Long Island there aren't too
87
00:05:57,309 -->
00:06:01,659
many people from the city who come
to make the trek out there for their
88
00:06:01,659 -->
00:06:05,359
graduate program since we do have
many graduate programs um for speech
89
00:06:05,359 -->
00:06:12,119
pathology in the city but she she was
very kind to have that work out for me.
90
00:06:12,889 -->
00:06:16,759
So I had my externship
recommendations there.
91
00:06:17,019 -->
00:06:20,979
And then of course with my,
my many extracurriculars, I
92
00:06:20,979 -->
00:06:22,469
had a great support staff.
93
00:06:22,539 -->
00:06:26,719
Many, many support staffs
where, um, I reached out to
94
00:06:26,889 -->
00:06:28,569
my current staff at that time.
95
00:06:28,579 -->
00:06:31,789
And the people who I hadn't
talked to like two, three years.
96
00:06:32,294 -->
00:06:35,874
Who I know had, they had written a letter
of recommendation for me a while ago,
97
00:06:35,874 -->
00:06:40,704
but I asked them because I see them
every now and then at RA events or campus
98
00:06:40,704 -->
00:06:47,884
residence, um, like networking or career
day, like being able to still have that
99
00:06:47,884 -->
00:06:52,214
connection with them, even though I hadn't
worked with them or directly under them
100
00:06:52,524 -->
00:06:55,004
for like two, three, four, five years.
101
00:06:55,004 -->
00:06:58,759
Like they, the fact that, We had such
a memorable time and that we were still
102
00:06:58,759 -->
00:07:03,149
on great terms, like, the fact that they
were willing to, to write me a letter of
103
00:07:03,149 -->
00:07:04,909
recommendation, I'm greatly appreciative.
104
00:07:05,419 -->
00:07:09,279
Yeah, you clearly made
very strong connections.
105
00:07:10,239 -->
00:07:15,549
Yeah, like, and they were so detailed
too, like, they would write in, they would
106
00:07:15,549 -->
00:07:20,459
write in different examples and stories
and like, like, wow, like, being able
107
00:07:20,869 -->
00:07:25,849
to, to have such a, like being able to
see what they, they thought about me too.
108
00:07:25,849 -->
00:07:29,379
And to have it written out
in paper was so reassuring.
109
00:07:29,379 -->
00:07:32,769
And like, I'm like, Oh, look, I know I had
an amazing time, like working with you.
110
00:07:32,769 -->
00:07:36,679
It's to hear all these like wonderful
words that you're saying about me.
111
00:07:36,679 -->
00:07:39,519
Just, I feel elated, you know?
112
00:07:40,199 -->
00:07:46,239
And then, um, my last, my last, um,
category, I guess, of letters of
113
00:07:46,239 -->
00:07:51,179
recommendations was summarizing my
teaching experiences because I had not
114
00:07:51,179 -->
00:07:58,179
only done my long term subbing out on, out
in the city, I had also done a maternity
115
00:07:58,179 -->
00:08:00,959
leave replacement as well on Long Island.
116
00:08:01,179 -->
00:08:06,679
So I was able to get a mix of both and,
um, I had also volunteered during the
117
00:08:06,679 -->
00:08:13,894
pandemic to, to do a program, um, And
where we were reading to a lot of the
118
00:08:13,894 -->
00:08:19,814
parents, kids who were involved in the
Stony Brook community, because imagine
119
00:08:19,814 -->
00:08:23,244
like being back home in the middle of the,
in the middle of the pandemic with your
120
00:08:23,244 -->
00:08:27,174
kid and you're constantly with your kid,
like naturally these parents need a break.
121
00:08:27,184 -->
00:08:29,884
They're, they don't, I'm sure
like they're petrified with what's
122
00:08:29,884 -->
00:08:31,264
happening in the world right now.
123
00:08:32,114 -->
00:08:34,484
And then, Hey, like all my
classes are remote anyway.
124
00:08:34,884 -->
00:08:36,224
So I couldn't go back.
125
00:08:36,384 -->
00:08:37,534
I couldn't go back in.
126
00:08:37,574 -->
00:08:40,984
I couldn't go back in subbing
with, with all the schools closed.
127
00:08:41,499 -->
00:08:46,929
So that was genuinely like such
a great way to use my time in
128
00:08:46,929 -->
00:08:48,729
such a meaningful, impactful way.
129
00:08:49,039 -->
00:08:50,509
Yeah, yeah.
130
00:08:51,009 -->
00:08:52,059
It's extraordinary.
131
00:08:52,109 -->
00:08:58,879
So I was curious, so you mentioned
you, um, were, you spent about a
132
00:08:58,879 -->
00:09:03,219
year and a half, maybe almost two
years working on the, uh, ePortfolio.
133
00:09:05,359 -->
00:09:08,809
As part of, it sounds like there
were three different classes, so did
134
00:09:08,809 -->
00:09:13,399
you start in one and then it kind
of carried through the other three?
135
00:09:13,419 -->
00:09:14,949
What was the professor's name?
136
00:09:14,949 -->
00:09:16,529
I'm sorry if I missed that earlier.
137
00:09:16,579 -->
00:09:18,039
Yeah, Elisabel Chang.
138
00:09:18,299 -->
00:09:18,789
Okay.
139
00:09:19,669 -->
00:09:22,029
So it sounds like she
gave some great advice.
140
00:09:22,269 -->
00:09:22,789
Oh, yeah.
141
00:09:22,789 -->
00:09:27,399
And then she, she actually showed
us some, some of the Digications
142
00:09:27,409 -->
00:09:29,589
from previ, the previous cohort too.
143
00:09:29,589 -->
00:09:32,639
So she showed examples of like what
you could possibly do with this.
144
00:09:33,114 -->
00:09:35,454
And it definitely got the
wheels turning, of course.
145
00:09:35,455 -->
00:09:36,184
Uh huh.
146
00:09:36,185 -->
00:09:41,024
It was nice to like, see what my peers
were doing and like, take some of
147
00:09:41,024 -->
00:09:45,174
like, their, like, their great work
and how they were displaying it and
148
00:09:45,174 -->
00:09:47,344
different features and gadgets to use.
149
00:09:47,704 -->
00:09:51,134
Um, While also like
figuring out my own style.
150
00:09:51,154 -->
00:09:52,384
How do I want to present it?
151
00:09:52,384 -->
00:09:57,064
How, what kind of, like, I
have extra teaching experience.
152
00:09:57,094 -->
00:09:58,764
I went to the ASHA convention.
153
00:09:58,764 -->
00:10:02,254
I really wanted to highlight that because
I was specifically related to the field.
154
00:10:02,634 -->
00:10:09,694
Um, but a lot of, uh, a lot of the, um, my
peers and I had a lot of similar tabs and
155
00:10:09,694 -->
00:10:15,384
whatnot too, because like we have the same
classes, we had, um, three externships,
156
00:10:15,414 -->
00:10:17,454
we should have a contact information.
157
00:10:17,794 -->
00:10:20,234
And, my professor was
really great in that.
158
00:10:20,234 -->
00:10:25,364
She had a rubric for us, too, so
that we started off with requiring
159
00:10:25,364 -->
00:10:29,554
a certain amount of things,
um, our first, um, assignment.
160
00:10:30,179 -->
00:10:36,429
So that way it was like a slow build
to it instead of just having all these
161
00:10:36,429 -->
00:10:38,779
expectations done immediately overnight.
162
00:10:39,119 -->
00:10:43,199
So that was, it was nice to like always
be like, Oh, like I have some spare time.
163
00:10:43,199 -->
00:10:47,119
Let me just add a little something
to my, my Digication now so that
164
00:10:47,119 -->
00:10:49,059
it doesn't build up over time.
165
00:10:50,009 -->
00:10:50,329
Yeah.
166
00:10:50,659 -->
00:10:55,129
Yeah, often when we're working
with, um, students that are part of
167
00:10:55,169 -->
00:10:59,379
these kind of professional practice
programs, there, there are kind of
168
00:10:59,819 -->
00:11:06,334
big expectations for what it may
look like at the end of the program?
169
00:11:06,484 -->
00:11:11,714
And I know very often instructors
and, you know, those that are kind of
170
00:11:11,724 -->
00:11:18,584
thinking about what, you know, what
the requirements might be or what, um,
171
00:11:18,774 -->
00:11:23,004
kind of the grading expectations may
be in designing some of these rubrics,
172
00:11:23,014 -->
00:11:25,944
how, how much structure do they want?
173
00:11:26,189 -->
00:11:33,990
To give the students to start or how,
how much do they just want the students
174
00:11:34,000 -->
00:11:39,120
to be able to kind of take their,
take the reins and have ownership over
175
00:11:39,579 -->
00:11:43,520
how it's organized and what content
is going to go in it, how much.
176
00:11:43,865 -->
00:11:46,295
Mentorship is going to be involved.
177
00:11:46,315 -->
00:11:50,345
How often are they going to be
able to see peers portfolios
178
00:11:50,375 -->
00:11:52,015
as they're being developed?
179
00:11:52,015 -->
00:11:54,825
And it sounds like there was
some natural sharing that was
180
00:11:54,835 -->
00:11:57,664
happening between your cohort.
181
00:11:57,664 -->
00:12:02,544
Was that something that was kind of
built into time that you had in class
182
00:12:02,544 -->
00:12:06,675
or did you find that you guys were just
kind of doing that on your free time?
183
00:12:06,685 -->
00:12:08,895
Did the professor encourage you to?
184
00:12:09,240 -->
00:12:10,310
Share with each other.
185
00:12:10,320 -->
00:12:11,590
What was that process like?
186
00:12:11,590 -->
00:12:13,170
Yeah, a mix of all of that.
187
00:12:13,200 -->
00:12:17,390
We, I remember in the classes we
would... she would have dedicated
188
00:12:17,390 -->
00:12:22,450
time for us to work on our Digication
portfolio, for us to talk to our
189
00:12:22,450 -->
00:12:26,350
neighbors, for us to ask her any
questions in the moment if we had any.
190
00:12:26,540 -->
00:12:30,980
So she definitely built into that, that
time to create a Digication portfolio
191
00:12:30,980 -->
00:12:35,310
within the class time so that we were,
um, around different inspiration or
192
00:12:35,510 -->
00:12:40,960
like have that... have her able, like,
be able to quickly look at our, our
193
00:12:40,960 -->
00:12:45,060
website to see if there are anything
that she wanted to add or like, oh,
194
00:12:45,060 -->
00:12:47,529
should I make my head shot over here?
195
00:12:47,530 -->
00:12:48,579
Should I put it over here?
196
00:12:48,579 -->
00:12:50,030
Should I not have it at all?
197
00:12:50,390 -->
00:12:52,659
Those are like quick questions
for her to answer too.
198
00:12:53,280 -->
00:12:53,840
Mm hmm.
199
00:12:54,100 -->
00:12:57,390
And it sounds like you got some
guidance too, and correct me if I'm
200
00:12:57,390 -->
00:13:00,300
wrong, but it looks like you might've
gotten some guidance because you were
201
00:13:00,300 -->
00:13:04,819
a part of these kind of Clinicals
and you also had these teaching
202
00:13:04,819 -->
00:13:06,950
experiences that you wanted to share.
203
00:13:06,950 -->
00:13:12,420
But, there's always, you know,
privacy kinds of guidelines
204
00:13:12,420 -->
00:13:14,040
and how much is shared.
205
00:13:14,050 -->
00:13:19,170
Does she give you some kind of
coaching on best practices there too?
206
00:13:19,220 -->
00:13:20,379
Yeah, definitely.
207
00:13:20,380 -->
00:13:25,050
So we, we had our rubric and
it was straightforward, but it
208
00:13:25,050 -->
00:13:30,040
definitely left a lot of room for
creative decisions and, and whatnot.
209
00:13:30,060 -->
00:13:35,410
So, um, she, she listed that she
wanted work from every single class.
210
00:13:36,695 -->
00:13:39,775
And your resume, of course,
and your cover letter.
211
00:13:40,125 -->
00:13:45,805
You weren't required to put down any
extracurriculars because some students
212
00:13:45,805 -->
00:13:47,315
might just simply not have any.
213
00:13:49,075 -->
00:13:55,775
But for the information that we
put, I know in a lot of our academic
214
00:13:55,775 -->
00:14:00,435
work, we have our peers names, or our
students names, or our clients names.
215
00:14:02,510 -->
00:14:06,200
So she, she made sure to tell
us to make, um, to make them
216
00:14:06,210 -->
00:14:08,100
unidentifiable, unidentifiable.
217
00:14:08,990 -->
00:14:14,880
So either like client xxx or client
initials or just the client first name.
218
00:14:15,250 -->
00:14:18,779
That way they weren't, there
was no violation of FERPA.
219
00:14:18,800 -->
00:14:21,170
There's no FERPA violation as well.
220
00:14:21,680 -->
00:14:22,099
Mm hmm.
221
00:14:22,120 -->
00:14:26,945
Um, I know like in, like some of my
favorite tabs to make, especially
222
00:14:26,945 -->
00:14:30,415
in Digication, were the ones about
my externship experiences and my
223
00:14:30,415 -->
00:14:34,495
teaching experiences, and they do
look very similar in terms of format.
224
00:14:34,815 -->
00:14:37,825
So I would put the picture of
the school, but make sure there
225
00:14:37,845 -->
00:14:39,135
aren't any students in there.
226
00:14:39,374 -->
00:14:42,865
But, um, she encouraged us to
put pictures of our students or
227
00:14:42,865 -->
00:14:44,434
any thank you notes that we had.
228
00:14:44,765 -->
00:14:49,675
So I included that, but I made sure
to put little like emoji smiley faces.
229
00:14:49,685 -->
00:14:51,805
Yeah, you've got your, yes, emoji.
230
00:14:51,805 -->
00:14:55,365
Over every single little kid's face
so that they're unidentifiable.
231
00:14:55,695 -->
00:15:00,514
And then you can see like just me, um,
without, which I think is kind of funny
232
00:15:00,515 -->
00:15:05,635
for some of my pictures because I'm, I'm
the size of my middle school students.
233
00:15:07,644 -->
00:15:11,425
But it's great because we get a
window into the environment, right?
234
00:15:11,695 -->
00:15:12,694
Yeah, yeah, and that was the thing.
235
00:15:12,945 -->
00:15:14,035
And that was the whole purpose.
236
00:15:14,035 -->
00:15:19,765
Like I wanted for whichever,
whoever the employer was or the
237
00:15:19,765 -->
00:15:24,425
hiring committee to almost be able
to picture me at their school.
238
00:15:24,635 -->
00:15:28,054
Like you can see that I'm comfortable
in this school environment, all
239
00:15:28,055 -->
00:15:29,345
these different school environments.
240
00:15:29,355 -->
00:15:31,575
You see that I'm having a great
time with these kids, like be
241
00:15:31,575 -->
00:15:32,945
able to work with these kids.
242
00:15:33,405 -->
00:15:39,625
Um, like I want them to envision me in
their school and be comfortable choosing
243
00:15:39,635 -->
00:15:41,365
me and enthusiastic to choose me.
244
00:15:42,155 -->
00:15:42,605
Yeah.
245
00:15:42,895 -->
00:15:43,095
Yeah.
246
00:15:43,095 -->
00:15:49,315
And I just think about those words in
comparison to the kind of bullet point
247
00:15:49,345 -->
00:15:54,785
about the experience that would be on your
resume and how, how different that is.
248
00:15:54,855 -->
00:15:55,105
Yeah.
249
00:15:55,105 -->
00:15:57,855
This like paints the whole
picture of, of my experience.
250
00:15:57,865 -->
00:16:01,155
Like I always find that I have
a harder time cutting down
251
00:16:01,155 -->
00:16:02,464
on words than filling it out.
252
00:16:04,124 -->
00:16:04,794
So I'm just like, cool.
253
00:16:05,395 -->
00:16:06,325
This and this and this.
254
00:16:06,345 -->
00:16:08,225
I'm like, Oh, what about this project?
255
00:16:08,565 -->
00:16:12,345
It's hard to cut down all these like,
amazing things that we've accomplished.
256
00:16:12,645 -->
00:16:18,245
Um, so like, to be able to talk about
them more through the Digication
257
00:16:18,254 -->
00:16:21,695
website was more exciting than ever.
258
00:16:21,695 -->
00:16:26,125
Like, I was able to put down exp...
explicitly, what we did, what curriculum
259
00:16:26,125 -->
00:16:30,465
we use, how many kids I have, and how
often I saw them, like the fact that
260
00:16:30,465 -->
00:16:34,395
it was during COVID, like being able to
talk about what struggles we worked on,
261
00:16:34,395 -->
00:16:38,515
like how, how difficult was it teaching
through a mask and a plastic shield?
262
00:16:38,740 -->
00:16:45,305
So, really, allowed me to speak on
my experience and that... kind of
263
00:16:45,305 -->
00:16:48,265
naturally brought me to my next question.
264
00:16:48,265 -->
00:16:51,384
I love it when there's these beautiful
little segues because my next question
265
00:16:51,385 -->
00:16:58,004
was... If, you know, has it always
been easy for you to be able to talk
266
00:16:58,015 -->
00:17:04,544
about yourself and your experiences
or do you feel like that's something
267
00:17:04,544 -->
00:17:07,885
that's kind of grown over time?
268
00:17:07,885 -->
00:17:12,645
Or maybe it was, you know, in working
with this professor or maybe in some of
269
00:17:12,645 -->
00:17:16,275
your leadership roles that this started
to come out for you because some people
270
00:17:16,424 -->
00:17:22,784
have a really difficult time talking about
themselves and you definitely seem very
271
00:17:22,784 -->
00:17:27,374
comfortable with it now and you definitely
seem like you're very comfortable with
272
00:17:27,505 -->
00:17:31,325
it through, you know, all the information
that you've shared in your portfolio,
273
00:17:31,325 -->
00:17:33,985
but that, has that always been the case?
274
00:17:34,760 -->
00:17:38,090
Yeah, so definitely did not
come out of nowhere overnight.
275
00:17:38,400 -->
00:17:46,255
Um, so I would say it started, um, a
little bit in high school where I, I went
276
00:17:46,255 -->
00:17:50,275
to a high school where I didn't have many
friends coming in from middle school.
277
00:17:50,275 -->
00:17:54,164
And I know I had, I had to push
myself to make new friends and make
278
00:17:54,165 -->
00:17:56,865
new connections, um, from the start.
279
00:17:57,135 -->
00:18:03,015
However, I think it really began and
like continued to push where I am now.
280
00:18:03,425 -->
00:18:10,865
Um, my sophomore year of college actually,
and I think it lines up very nicely Um,
281
00:18:10,885 -->
00:18:16,775
because my freshman year, I was, uh,
a bio major on the pre med track, not
282
00:18:16,775 -->
00:18:22,244
enjoying my classes, having a really
tough time studying and not going out.
283
00:18:23,055 -->
00:18:29,404
Um, but at the very end of freshman
year, getting the RA position, the
284
00:18:29,404 -->
00:18:34,314
Resident Assistant position, where
I was all of a sudden like sprung
285
00:18:34,345 -->
00:18:37,754
into this leadership position that
I really hoped and prayed for.
286
00:18:38,195 -->
00:18:43,754
Um, because then at that I was a,
I was a leadership role model here.
287
00:18:43,754 -->
00:18:49,684
I'm like being able to have a reason,
have a why to push myself to not
288
00:18:49,704 -->
00:18:57,104
only enjoy, um, college life and like
living away from home and dorming.
289
00:18:57,475 -->
00:19:01,524
But now I also have to kind of
market this and sell this and,
290
00:19:02,334 -->
00:19:06,214
invite other first year students
to feel welcome on campus as well.
291
00:19:06,234 -->
00:19:10,814
So having them come out to events
and showing them different resources
292
00:19:10,814 -->
00:19:15,684
and different, um, spaces that we
had, um, and hosting these spaces and
293
00:19:15,684 -->
00:19:18,365
being able to explain like, 'Oh, like,
this is what we're doing and this
294
00:19:18,365 -->
00:19:19,814
is what we have planned for today.'
295
00:19:19,814 -->
00:19:22,920
And like, like 'I have free pizza,'
like 'you want to come here?' And
296
00:19:22,920 -->
00:19:29,499
like 'come out at eight o'clock on a
Tuesday?' So like being able to have
297
00:19:29,499 -->
00:19:35,719
a reason, have a why that pushes me to
be comfortable in my skin, be confident
298
00:19:35,719 -->
00:19:40,329
and like, sharing not only about myself,
but about Stony Brook and I feel like
299
00:19:40,329 -->
00:19:45,419
that's also what allowed me to learn
so much about the school and now have
300
00:19:45,419 -->
00:19:47,099
so much pride about the school too.
301
00:19:47,619 -->
00:19:48,319
Yes.
302
00:19:48,359 -->
00:19:57,234
Well, you, you definitely exude that
and, I can imagine that, you know, the,
303
00:19:57,674 -->
00:20:03,274
the comfort that you have in sharing
who you are and your experiences
304
00:20:03,304 -->
00:20:08,934
probably really resonates with the
students that you work with now also.
305
00:20:09,354 -->
00:20:15,119
So it's wonderful that you had that RA
experience on campus and you know, I
306
00:20:15,139 -->
00:20:22,629
think this kind of, um, storytelling and
highlighting your achievements, so your
307
00:20:22,629 -->
00:20:29,189
portfolio is reinforced that and has
this, uh, kind of additional audience
308
00:20:29,199 -->
00:20:31,919
around who you are and what you do.
309
00:20:32,644 -->
00:20:36,494
And I think, you know, this kind of
celebration of who you are and your
310
00:20:36,494 -->
00:20:43,294
experiences and your passion for speech
and working with students probably really
311
00:20:43,294 -->
00:20:49,014
inspires all of the people that you work
with, the students and the, the colleagues
312
00:20:49,014 -->
00:20:51,774
that you have at your school today.
313
00:20:52,514 -->
00:20:53,084
Thank you.
314
00:20:54,064 -->
00:20:55,144
Yeah, I was curious.
315
00:20:55,144 -->
00:20:57,524
So, as a recent graduate.
316
00:20:57,904 -->
00:21:02,674
But, you know, what, what are some
of the connections that you've
317
00:21:02,674 -->
00:21:06,854
already fostered as an alumni?
318
00:21:06,864 -->
00:21:13,354
Or what are some of the relationships or
connections that you hope to keep, um, now
319
00:21:13,354 -->
00:21:15,534
that you've graduated from the university?
320
00:21:16,104 -->
00:21:16,904
Absolutely.
321
00:21:16,904 -->
00:21:23,229
So, um, I know, luckily Stony Brook is
only, uh, a two hour train ride away.
322
00:21:23,649 -->
00:21:25,659
Uh, happy to hear about that.
323
00:21:25,669 -->
00:21:28,979
I know like I, I'm definitely
on their alumni list.
324
00:21:28,979 -->
00:21:31,229
I like to know when
homecomings are and whatnot.
325
00:21:31,624 -->
00:21:35,334
Um, but also I, I stay very
close in contact with a lot of
326
00:21:35,334 -->
00:21:36,814
my friends who are still there.
327
00:21:37,114 -->
00:21:40,274
Um, also fellow alums
from the college as well.
328
00:21:40,664 -->
00:21:47,024
Um, I would say my biggest contribution
still to this day is, um, being
329
00:21:47,024 -->
00:21:50,184
part of a program called SLPeers.
330
00:21:50,464 -->
00:21:56,034
So our speech language pathology is
usually an SLP, and we have a program
331
00:21:56,034 -->
00:22:01,334
that we made with, um, peers that comes
with it and it's a mentor-mentee program.
332
00:22:01,534 -->
00:22:05,984
So I luckily still have a,
a mentee in the program.
333
00:22:06,264 -->
00:22:10,214
And so it's really great still
seeing where they are now in their
334
00:22:10,214 -->
00:22:15,254
academic journey, having, um, to give
them advice and talking about their
335
00:22:15,254 -->
00:22:19,304
experiences and their externships and
rooting them on because just a year
336
00:22:19,304 -->
00:22:20,814
ago, I was in their exact same shoes.
337
00:22:20,815 -->
00:22:21,634
You were right there.
338
00:22:22,134 -->
00:22:22,624
Yeah.
339
00:22:23,294 -->
00:22:28,274
Like I, I know, like I talked to them at
least once every two weeks, like being
340
00:22:28,274 -->
00:22:31,314
able to share like, Oh, like you got
this, like, Oh, like, where did you get
341
00:22:31,314 -->
00:22:33,084
placed for your externship this year?
342
00:22:33,084 -->
00:22:36,184
Like, Oh, like how,
how, how'd your test go?
343
00:22:36,194 -->
00:22:41,529
Or what are some places that you're
looking to apply to for Your CF, like
344
00:22:41,529 -->
00:22:46,159
post grad and any advice that I can
give or we have our licensing exam,
345
00:22:46,159 -->
00:22:48,709
which is the practice and I know a
lot of them are studying for that
346
00:22:48,729 -->
00:22:52,299
then and being able to share that
material with them, like, it's nice to
347
00:22:52,299 -->
00:22:54,929
pass down like all this information.
348
00:22:54,929 -->
00:22:58,834
And you know, the, Cause I, I didn't
come in with this empty-handed either.
349
00:22:58,834 -->
00:23:04,224
Like I, I had a wonderful mentor
too, who, who shared her fountain
350
00:23:04,224 -->
00:23:06,434
of, of wisdom with me too.
351
00:23:06,474 -->
00:23:09,514
So being able to pass that
along feels like you're, you're
352
00:23:09,934 -->
00:23:11,274
part of something so much more.
353
00:23:11,789 -->
00:23:17,329
And then, uh, of course, still being very
involved, like I, I love being part of,
354
00:23:17,579 -->
00:23:22,569
um, the admissions committees too, as
well as, uh, I guess now as like an alumni
355
00:23:22,599 -->
00:23:28,379
interviewer, but I was, um, a student
interviewer, um, during the time, and now,
356
00:23:28,379 -->
00:23:33,349
um, um, they send invitations out to the
alumni to see if they'd like to be part
357
00:23:33,349 -->
00:23:36,639
of the, um, admissions committee board.
358
00:23:36,879 -->
00:23:40,139
So that's something that I look
forward to taking part in and, you
359
00:23:40,139 -->
00:23:44,619
know, continuing my, my involvement
in the program and at Stony Brook.
360
00:23:45,409 -->
00:23:46,659
Oh, that is wonderful.
361
00:23:46,689 -->
00:23:53,229
And I'm sure that you'll be an inspiration
to our listeners as well and anyone that
362
00:23:53,259 -->
00:23:57,509
comes to see your extraordinary portfolio.
363
00:23:57,589 -->
00:23:58,648
Thank you so much.
364
00:23:58,648 -->
00:23:59,559
We appreciate you.
365
00:24:00,129 -->
00:24:07,079
Yes, I so appreciate you taking the
time to to join me and talk about your
366
00:24:07,099 -->
00:24:12,929
extraordinary achievements and all that
you've done and really looking forward to
367
00:24:12,939 -->
00:24:15,379
to sharing your story with our listeners.
368
00:24:15,409 -->
00:24:16,230
Thank you so much.
369
00:24:16,230 -->
00:24:17,399
I'm so flattered.
370
00:24:17,399 -->
00:24:18,859
Thank you so much for having me.
371
00:24:19,649 -->
00:24:20,469
Absolutely.
372
00:24:20,539 -->
00:24:21,419
Take good care.
373
00:24:21,859 -->
00:24:22,829
Thank you as well.
374
00:24:23,859 -->
00:24:25,989
This concludes our conversation.
375
00:24:26,229 -->
00:24:30,609
To hear our next episode, be sure
to subscribe to Digication Scholars
376
00:24:30,609 -->
00:24:35,789
Conversations on YouTube, iTunes,
Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
377
00:24:36,564 -->
00:24:41,454
The Digication Scholars Conversation
Series is brought to you by Digication,
378
00:24:41,714 -->
00:24:45,764
a technology platform powering
the most innovative e-portfolio
379
00:24:45,769 -->
00:24:48,764
programs in K12 and higher education.
380
00:24:49,484 -->
00:24:52,814
Our website can be
found at Digication.com.
381
00:24:53,294 -->
00:24:56,204
If you enjoyed today's
conversation, please like,
382
00:24:56,354 -->
00:24:58,364
subscribe, and share with a friend.
383
00:24:58,874 -->
00:24:59,954
Thanks for tuning in.
