returned to school, keeping pace

Graduate student Jennifer Clark is a speech-language pathology major from Mer Rouge.

I am the youngest of two children; my brother is five years older than I am, and he teaches at Oklahoma Baptist University.

One thing most people don't know about me is that I have lived in eight countries on six different continents.

I am married with two boys, ages 14 and 11; they are pretty much my extracurricular activities. I am involved with National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, a student organization. Also, I am a Sunday School teacher in my church.

I hope to work in Morehouse parish as a speech-language pathologist. I am still open as to where I might work.

My favorite spot on campus is Starbucks. Do I need to explain? Caffeine!

Dr. Linda Bryan was my language professor my very first semester in this program (and continued to be my professor throughout the program, thankfully), and she got me hooked! One day I was really questioning whether I should pursue the degree as an older student with children, and it just so happened that in class that day Dr. Bryan shared how she became interested in speech-language pathology. She was a librarian for what was then Northeast Louisiana University and her student worker, who was pursuing speech-language pathology, told her all of the awesome things that he was learning. Dr. Bryan went on to say that she started the program, worked for several years as a clinical SLP, and then earned her doctorate. She looked at the class and said, "I came to this field late, but have completely enjoyed it. You will never be sorry for pursuing this career. It is a wonderful career." From that moment on, I felt a kinship with her. This is the third degree that I am pursuing and I feel like I found it late in life as a middle-aged person. She has been a GREAT teacher and mentor.

There are many students like me at ULM. That is why our university system in northeast Louisiana is so important. Luckily, I just happened upon a great program in a great department!

So far my favorite ULM memory is when the Warhawks beat Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. What could be better than that?

The speech-language pathology program has helped me to grow as a person. It has required more discipline out of me than any other thing I have done. The pace has been grueling and has stretched my brain in ways I didn't know were possible. However, the department is a very caring and nurturing department. I feel like they want me to succeed.