**The following are excerpts from an SLP's personal journal. Enjoy!

• Date: 08-26-02
  I start my new job tomorrow, my first in the school system, and I am very nervous. I think I will do fine, however, I hope the children I will be working with and their parents will be somewhat cooperative. Beginning something new is always a little scary for me but I have learned that you just have to jump in and give it your best shot. I want my clients and their families to feel comfortable around me and understand that I am a person just like them. I composed a letter to send home with my new clients to familiarize them with me and give them contact information to reach me at anytime. Well, I guess I better get some rest for the big day tomorrow, wish me luck!

I think I am going to like my new job. Everyone I have met so far has been very welcoming and helpful in my new adjustment. I feel like this will be a great experience, although, I am sure it will be stressful at times and that is when I need to take a time out and do things I am interested in and enjoy. Taking time out often gives me a second wind, even writing my journal entries help. Yesterday I did something very fun and adventurous, I went white water rafting with my family. It was very fun yet tiring because we journeyed 14 miles down the Gauley River. This will be something that I will keep in my memory for years to come. Goodnight for now.

Well, it has been an end to yet another busy day and like every other day I have gotten myself into another project. Since I am the SLP at our school, I have been given the assignment to work with the Title One teacher on a Phonological Awareness presentation to better inform parents what phonological awareness is and how it can be helpful. I am excited about this presentation because many parents or caregivers don't understand how much they can help their children in their learning by teaching them to identify and manipulate sounds. I hope I am able to keep my motivation about this project so I can deliver the appropriate message. Goodnight for now.

It is hard to believe that one year ago our nation was attacked by terrorist and our world has been changed forever. I think many people took time out today to reflect and remember many lives that were innocently lost one year ago today. This is such a tragedy but we must move on and do what we do well. Today, I wrote a poem in regards to Sept. 11 and it helped me feel better about the situation. Then I was thinking about what I am currently working on at school and I decided to write a poem about phonological awareness as well, just to give me a different view on the whole subject. The poem went like this:

Phonological Awareness
focuses on sounds, letters, and rhyming
at school and at play
while reading stories and playing games
to increase one's awareness and produce better readers

I was proud of my poem, it gave me a different outlook on something I work with everyday.

Yesterday at work I had some parents contact me because they have concerns with their son speech-language development. This family is new to the area and they have a foreign background, which they think is contributing to their son's problem. This is something new for me because I haven't worked with a child that has been raised bilingually. I have read some articles and tried to prepare myself for the meeting I have with them tomorrow. Please wish me Good Luck, I'll write tomorrow and let you know how it went.

Today has been a lousy day, it has rained all day and it's cold too. Other than the weather I feel like my day was pretty productive. I had an interview with one of my clients and his parents. I think it went good, the parents seem like they will be very supportive and that is always good when thinking of a prognosis.

I am feeling stress more than ever this week. I have been preparing for a convention in Morgantown on Thursday where I am doing a presentation. I think I have everything together but I always forget something. I am excited to leave on Thursday so I can just get away for a couple days! I was able to get a substitute SLP to fill in for me while I am gone and this made me feel better about leaving. I prepared lesson plans for my sub to follow so my clients will get some practice while I am absent. This makes me feel better about leaving if I know they are still getting the proper instruction. Now, I guess I need to finish packing so I'll be ready for the trip.

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