Speech-Language Pathology Pre Grad Intern
Aislynn Christine Fulton
"My motivation for wanting to do well in school stems from wanting to help other people. My ultimate goal is to pursue a career as a researcher and clinician in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders--Speech-Language Pathology. Why research? I want to help therapists all over the world improve the lives of their own patients, by publishing cutting-edge, clinically-relevant research.
Just two months ago, I thought these long-term goals of mine were lofty. I didn't think I was cut-out for research or graduate school. However, the IE Pre Grad school internship has opened up amazing opportunities to me--to accomplish things I never thought possible in my undergraduate career...or lifetime for that matter. It's been a lot of hard work -- reading and analyzing academic articles, writing and drafting research literature, creating experimental paradigms, communicating research ideas to others, etc. -- but well worth it -- without a doubt.
This summer, I will be presenting in Madison, Wisconsin at the Research Symposium on Child Language Disorders -- as I am head-author and co-author on two studies examining bilingual language development. The IE Program is funding this trip for me and my mentor -- providing us with generous travel grant awards. I've also been appointed project manager for another study examining bilinguals and am now working on my Undergraduate Thesis--which will be completed in May of 2015.
I truly believe these wonderful experiences in IE, thus far, helped me earn this competitive scholarship award from the Coca-Cola Foundation and Hispanic Scholarship Fund--for first generation college students. It really is an amazing feeling to accomplish things you never thought possible half-a-year ago."