Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a master's degree in special education. I worked with speech pathologists/therapists in a middle school setting. You could probably find a position easily in a middle or high school setting, which would be different than elementary.

OP
I did 4 clinical rotations in grad school and schools were honestly my least favorite. I prefer private practice or early intervention over schools. Some of the elementary kids didn't want to be pulled out for speech and the middle school/HS kids are sometimes very defiant. It's more draining overall to work in schools. That's why I'm looking at a teletherapy position if I do schools.

You will learn a lot in your clinical fellowship year and you will have the training to make a real difference in people's lives.

My kid went from severe expressive and receptive speech and language disability at preschool to admissions with full scholarship at a top-20 university.

If your goal is to work with animals, you can always get a year or two of speech path experience, and then shit to part-time in speech path while building up an animal-related business. I mean, it sounds like your neighbor basically does dog massage one day a week? You could do that too, even working ft.

Anonymous wrote:I did one semester in speech pathology and got a D in the class. I immediately changed my major to communication and now work in advertising.

so happy i had the foresight to not become a speech pathologist.

Well you are basically useless and will soon be made completely redundant by ChatGPT

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a master's degree in special education. I worked with speech pathologists/therapists in a middle school setting. You could probably find a position easily in a middle or high school setting, which would be different than elementary.

Also, have you thought of working in a field to train therapy and support dogs for children and adults who also need speech therapy? There are volunteer settings such as "Read to Rover". You might be able to bring a certified dog into your classroom and your speech therapy services.

Have you thought of becoming a public speaking coach for executives? Or you can offer public speaking to adults who have some issues with that? I read an article about how practicing a speech to a dog helps to relieve nerves. You can bring a therapy dog to the sessions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t let the neighbor get in your head this way. Speech therapy is really great and needed. If you don’t want to work in schools, what about child find? Or at rehab centers with strolls victims? Have you seen the gabby giffords biopic? Her speech therapist made all the difference in her life.

Thank you. It's hard not to let it get to me. I feel like such a loser. I thought when getting this degree i would feel accomplished and good about myself, but it's like I feel worse.

I would work at a clinic/private practice but none in my area are hiring. I would also do rehab. None are hiring right now.. .maybe in the future.

Animals are my real passion though. It's hard to see someone else getting to live that dream and all she had to do was a short course. Her husband supports her so I'm not really sure if it's lucrative or enough to live on.

You are in no way a loser. You have chosen a FABULOUS career field! You can work full time, part-time, with a private clinic, in a hospital, in public schools, private practice, etc. If you move to the Atlanta area, you won't be able to turn down the jobs fast enough!

OP, I have a master's degree in special education. I worked with speech pathologists/therapists in a middle school setting. You could probably find a position easily in a middle or high school setting, which would be different than elementary.

Anonymous wrote:Can you do zoom appointments?

The advantage of having a high paying job and a passion is you can use the money to fund your passion. Like work as a remote SLP while tending to your animal sanctuary.

Yes. There is a huge demand for teletherapy SLPs.

A lot of school districts are also hiring SLPs this way also in addition to in-person SLPs.

Anonymous wrote:Your neighbor is living off her spouse. She probably makes a bit of money but has health insurance, bills covered and is counting on her spouses’s retirement benefits.

Speech therapists made a huge difference in my kid’s life.

You can still have animals - just do it as a hobby.

OP
My husband said the same. Her spouse works full time out of the house in a tech job. She works at the massage/hydro place for dogs on Sundays and maybe another day or 2. I believe she's an independent contractor there or gets a commission with no benefits.

I have animals and foster already. I might be getting a remote position as an SLP for the 23/24 school year.

The first year out of grad school for SLP you have to a clinical fellowship year, so you can't open your own practice until you've at least been through that first (which equates to 9 months if full time, so it's not quite a full year).

I'm glad to hear speech pathologists made a difference in your child's life. It is pretty amazing what can be done with the help of a dedicated and caring SLP who uses evidence-based practice.

Your neighbor is living off her spouse. She probably makes a bit of money but has health insurance, bills covered and is counting on her spouses’s retirement benefits.

Speech therapists made a huge difference in my kid’s life.

You can still have animals - just do it as a hobby.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t let the neighbor get in your head this way. Speech therapy is really great and needed. If you don’t want to work in schools, what about child find? Or at rehab centers with strolls victims? Have you seen the gabby giffords biopic? Her speech therapist made all the difference in her life.

Thank you. It's hard not to let it get to me. I feel like such a loser. I thought when getting this degree i would feel accomplished and good about myself, but it's like I feel worse.

I would work at a clinic/private practice but none in my area are hiring. I would also do rehab. None are hiring right now.. .maybe in the future.

Animals are my real passion though. It's hard to see someone else getting to live that dream and all she had to do was a short course. Her husband supports her so I'm not really sure if it's lucrative or enough to live on.

You can do both. Foster animals and Work as an SLP. You are comparing yourself to others. SLP is a great career with lots of flexibility and workplace options. Schools, hospitals, rehab, private practice - yours or others. You could also work at the associations the representers SLP on policy and regulations.

We will all feel like losers if we compare ourselves to others. I am not as successful as my colleagues. I still do good work and make a decent living.

Anonymous wrote:Can you do zoom appointments?

The advantage of having a high paying job and a passion is you can use the money to fund your passion. Like work as a remote SLP while tending to your animal sanctuary.

Zoom appointments don't work well for dog grooming.

Can you do zoom appointments?

The advantage of having a high paying job and a passion is you can use the money to fund your passion. Like work as a remote SLP while tending to your animal sanctuary.

You’ll be fine. You’re just in a panic at the moment. You don’t have to be a Speech Pathologist just because you got that degree. You didn’t make bad choices, you just made choices. Now you can make new ones. Certainly the skills you’ve acquired are useful to many areas. You’ll find it. Don’t get so down on yourself. You built a foundation. It will pan out.

Anonymous wrote:Folks pay a lot when it comes to their dogs. We know a couple who opened up a dog boarding & grooming business. Have made a very substantial amount of money from day one. Often have no availability due to demand.

The negative aspect: They have to live next to their business since it is difficult to hire long term, reliable, trusted employees. They rely on extended family to work the business. It is lucrative.

Folks pay a lot when it comes to their dogs. We know a couple who opened up a dog boarding & grooming business. Have made a very substantial amount of money from day one. Often have no availability due to demand.