passion for audiology, father

Nicholas Quintois is a 34-year-old sophomore speech language pathology major from Sylvia, N.C.

I am a father of five children: son, 13; step-son, 9; step-son, 8; daughter, 2; daughter, 1 week. They are my extra curricular activities. I also work here on campus in the Library computer lab.

I have one brother who lives in Massachusetts and one sister who lives in Mississippi. I am the oldest child of the three.

After finishing my B.S. in speech language pathology here at ULM, I want to complete a doctorate in audiology. I have a strong will to understand why some children lose their hearing at birth. I feel very strongly about this and wish to utilize my passion and determination to understand the "WHY?" I hope to one day teach other students to have passion in audiology.

At this point, the Library is my favorite spot (for studying), though I am looking forward to our new offices in Sugar Hall being completed.

One of my favorite professors is April Johnson; she fueled my passion to understand audiology from the beginning. She pushed me to learn, and she made it fun as well. I am not sure if I would have made the push to audiology without her.

One of my favorite memories is from Christmas 2008, when I was picked to receive a gift from the Student Government and the NTSO on stage at a local ULM event. I had all of my children with me that chilly night while my wife was in a nursing class at Glenwood. I received that gift in one hand while holding my 2-year-old daughter in the other in front of all those people. I am sure that turned a few heads.

I am more determined than ever to finish my degree!

I chose to attend ULM because my wife was a student here, getting ready to start Nursing School. I wanted to further my education, show my children that if I could do it at 34 and get the job that I truly wanted, so could they.

Balancing work and school does require a lot of give and take. My wife and I try to spend time with our children, just as much as we devote to work and school.