My Major: Way to Give Back by Angelina

My Major: Way to Give Back by Angelina - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

Since I was in elementary school, I’ve always found fulfillment in teaching others. From helping my older sister with her math homework, and coaching my little sister in at-home gymnastics, to teaching children how to make lanyards at the summer camp I volunteer at, it's something that's continuously brought me sincere joy. Knowing that some push aside their passions for a higher paycheck and end up unhappy, I decided a few years ago that I would not settle for a career that would leave me unfulfilled. Throughout high school, no matter what class or club I joined, my heart kept pulling me back toward life sciences. Ultimately, I realized I’m destined for a career in which I have a direct hand in improving the lives of others. That's when I came across speech pathology. As a speech pathologist, I would be able to help those recovering from strokes or assist children who may be struggling to communicate effectively. Having worked with children when providing tutoring, working at Mathnasiumm, and volunteering at a summer camp yearly throughout high school, I know I seriously want to pursue this. This is why I will be majoring in Applied Linguistics at UCLA in the fall.
The ability to clearly communicate is something most people take for granted, myself included. It's how we form bonds and build meaningful relationships with others. Personally, I’ve found my relationships to be what makes life worth living, and to be able to unlock those tools for someone else would be extremely gratifying. My little brother used to struggle with clear communication. When talking with him, I could sense his frustration when no one understood what he was trying to say. That's when he began speech therapy. The improvement was far greater than anything I was expecting. Seeing his increased confidence firsthand, I know speech pathologists make real, lifelong impacts.
More than ever, I’m asked what career I want to pursue. When I answer with speech pathology, I’ve been shocked by the number of times I’ve received a personal anecdote of how life-changing speech therapy was for this person’s family. A friend of mine confided in me that their mother had suffered a stroke, but through speech therapy, she’s closer than ever to getting her voice back. Responses like these have only reinforced how much I know I want to do this. Currently, I’m improving my Spanish, as my ultimate goal is to work in underserved communities that don’t have access to Spanish speech therapy and give back to a community that invested so much in me.