Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Why did you choose your major?

Hey everyone, so I know at the beginning of the semester we discussed what our majors were but we didn't necessarily explain the reasoning as to why we decided to pick that major. So this blog is supposed to be a fun, laid back post and all you have to do is tell your major and explain why you chose it! I'll start with mine, as of right now I am currently a pre-OS major with a Special Education minor. I'm in the process right now of wanting to change my major to better fit my personal preferences and what will work best for me for the remainder of my time at EKU. I'm currently stuck between the decision of doing Physical Therapy or Recreational Therapy, but I will still continue to keep my SE minor. The reason behind choosing my minor is because I've always had a personal connection with anyone who is considered to have special needs, no matter what the age may be. I have an aunt who has Down syndrome and is 32 years old I believe, in which I've always had a close relationship with her. So she's really the ultimate reason why I chose to minor in SE, but in terms of my major I'm really just trying to find what is the best fit for me and that allows me to help someone each and every day. Now your turn!

21 comments:

  1. I am a currently a pre-OS major also. I applied to the program last week and hopefully I get in because Occupational Therapy is my passion. I chose this major because I want to interact with stroke and brain injury patients and help them get back to doing what they love. I love the challenge that comes with this job and the opportunities I will have to interact with a variety of people from different backgrounds and hobbies. I like this type of therapy in particular because an OT gets to have more fun with their patients than a PT. OT's help the patient get back to doing what they love and help them function as a normal person again. I also have a minor in ASL because I want to use this to communicate with some stroke patients that may no longer be able to speak or are working on relearning how to speak. Also I have a deaf cousin so be learning sign language I am better able to communicate with her and her family

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    1. Your post is so interesting--I'm glad I'm learning so much about all of you. I think OT is very interesting and would be very rewarding. Good luck with your application

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  2. I am currently a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Elementary Education major. The reason I chose my major is because a few summers ago, I worked in a Child Development Center, and one of the little boys in the toddler room where I was working was deaf with a hearing aid, but he was learning how to sign. Most of his classmates (being 3) didn't know sign language so Toby (the boy who was deaf) had trouble communicating his feelings, and would turn to violence when another child took his toy or did something he didn't like. He would bite them or hit them, which ended up being a lot of paperwork for the two women in charge. Because they didn't want to have to keep calling home, they asked me if I would focus on just Toby and make sure he wasn't hurting anybody, or himself. Over those two weeks, we really formed a bond, and it was really hard leaving him at the end of the summer! I knew right then and there that I wanted to work with children just like Toby, so I researched it and found out the EKU had a great Deaf Ed program and here I am!

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    1. What a great story, Ashley. Thanks for sharing. I've always had a soft spot for the "stinkers" in the class as well. So glad you ended up in this program!

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  3. My major is interpreting, and I'm debating about my minor; it will more than likely be something involving the medical setting, because I love the human body and want to be a medical interpreter. My Uncle and Aunt are both Deaf. My Uncle started teaching me ASL when I was 10, because I wanted to be able to talk to them. I instantly fell in love with the language, and knew I wanted to be an interpreter that same year. I began interpreting songs, and that's why I want to also be a concert interpreter on the side; I'm constantly signing songs. I grew up surrounded by Deaf Culture and all of my uncle and aunt's Deaf friends, also attending different events to meet more of them. Speaking with them, and watching their faces light up is the best feeling in the world to me. Ever since I started learning, I've been immersed in Deaf culture, and I forever will be. The Deaf Community has my heart. :)

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    1. I would love to see one of your song interpretations. I think it so such a beautiful thing to watch

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    2. Well, thank you! I'm thinking about doing one soon for feedback, so if I do, I'll be sure to let you know!

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  4. My major is Communication disorders with a minor in Special Education. I chose my major because I love children, specifically birth to 3. There aren't many things in the "medical" field that you can do with children of that size and not be a doctor. My brother also contributed to my decision on taking this career path. He always has had a wonderful Speech Pathologist on his case and I have seen how much she has helped him. I really want to help other people like my brother!

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    1. The minor will really be helpful to you in your CD major. Thanks for sharing your story, Jessie.

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  5. I am a Communication Disorders major with a minor in ASL and Special Education. I was undeclared when I came to EKU, but was interested in the CD program because I like the flexability of the career. You can work in various fields from educational to medical settings. I knew that I wanted to work with people without the gore of being a nurse. I was interested in Special Education in case I decide to work in a school, and I enjoy learning about ASL and the Deaf community because I have a Deaf father who did not have access to sign. I want to be able to provide that to my clients if that is the right decision for them or help them with speech if it is not.

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    1. This is a very interesting post, Megan. Those 2 minors will really make you a fabulous SLP. Best of luck!

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  6. I am currently doing General Studies, only because I was original doing Education and couldnt pass my praxis and I was running out of time, so I just went on to do this just so i could get something on paper.

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    1. Hi Katie,
      General studies is just fine. You just never know where life will take you....
      I hope you have enjoyed all of your coursework thus far.

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  7. My major is DHH and I want to work at a elementary school. I have always loved working with little kids at church or when I baby set so I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. My sophomore year of high school I got to work in a deaf preschool classroom. I fell in love with the little kids and ASL. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do anymore but I knew I wanted to work with the deaf. My senior year we got to job shadow and I went back to the same school I worked at before and loved it. The teacher told me all about how she went to EKU and got this degree and what she could do with it and how much she loved it. So I went home and applied to come to EKU. I knew this was the job for me. My senior year I also got a job at a day care. I loved every minute of it. Working there just made me even more sure this was the Job I wanted. I want to spend my days in a classroom teaching little kids.

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    1. I'm so glad you found out about the program, Savannah. I can tell you are truly passionate about obtaining your degree and I'm looking forward to more classes with you.

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  8. I'm a psychology major with minors in special ed. and ASL. I have always worked with kids who have autism because my mom is a paraeducator in a unit that was at my elementary school. So, I grew up around the kids in the unit, and even had some of them in my classes so they were my good friends. With their autism, a lot of the kids in the unit had some behavior issues. My mom and I always had the motto that we "like the kids no one else does". So, somewhere down the line I decided to help those kids that I always seemed to gravitate towards! I decided to get my major and minors to help towards a career in applied behavioral analysis in order to become a behavioral therapist. In that line of work, the biggest population you tend to work with is children with autism. I kinda figured that they're the kids I've always been with and have the most knowledge about, so I might as well use that to make a career. It'll allow me to do something I find interesting, while also allowing me to hang out with the people I like the best all day!

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  9. My major is Elementary Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It was not easy to get to this point and I have changed my major several times. I have always known I wanted to work with kids, but I just didn't know how I wanted to work with them. I never really wanted to be a teacher, so I took the psychology route and started off with a psychology major hoping to be a children's therapist one day. However, this did not last long. One day while I was working, I was helping a customer and she happened to be a principal at a deaf school. I thought this was very interesting so I asked more questions and I was instantly intrigued. After that encounter, I decided to look into the Deaf Education program at EKU. I also kept seeing this person a few places in public after that encounter, which to myself I took as a sign. I am a religious person and I felt as if God was telling me to get a move on get into this field. This brings us to today and I couldn't be happier with my choice. I love ASL and I love getting to work with children one on one. I believe I have the patience to do this and I determined to make a difference in a child's life who would otherwise be overlooked.

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  10. I'm a pre-OS major with a minor in Special Education and in ASL. I chose my major kind of at random in highschool on a career day I just picked it thinking nothing of it and ended up falling in love and have not changed my mind since. I picked my Special ed minor because I want to work with kids but have always had a passion for working with children with disabilities. I didn't pick my ASL minor until my second semester at college, I developed an interest and then learned more about the culture and community and was hooked!

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  11. What a great post! I've loved reading all the comments. I was originally Deaf Studies, but have recently changed to interpretation. Probably about 30 years ago I felt led to go and study ASL in some way or form but fought it every bit of the way, I was out for the money and a quick degree. I have been blessed to have been a dental hygienist for over 22 years and feel that I can use all that I learn in ASL to continue in the dental field. Guys, really, don't worry about the field, go with what your passion is. You will truly be happy, I can honestly say I'm studying ASL at the perfect time of my life, because I treasure every moment of it.

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  12. Im a pre-ASL interpreting major! I came into college taking a little ASL in high school, but really wasn't sure of what to go into. I switched my major a few times, opting for high paying job majors, but in the end I was not happy at all. I switched to ASL which is my passion, and Ive stuck with it ever since! Learning to sign and learning this culture has been one of the best decisions ive ever made, and I won't look back! :)

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  13. I am an Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing major. I have always loved sign language and wanted to learn it. One reason I really pursued it was because I was at the pharmacy I work at and a deaf man came through the drive thru and no one could talk to him. I really felt God telling me then to pursue it, and I have loved it!

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