To be reconsidering becoming a speech and language therapist?

[salt2b]

I'm not really sure what to write, I guess I'm just hoping for some advice and someone to tell me I've made the right decision.

I have a degree in Biochemistry, and have spent my 20s working in labs and disliking it, and then working in pharmaceutical sales and hating it. I had always wanted to work with young children as a nursery teacher or wanted to go into nursing or medicine and so it seemed like speech and language seemed like the perfect combination. I got a place at university and started in September.

I'm enjoying it, but there's a lot more to speech and language than I realised and the degree has been more intense than I expected. I'm also finding it hard to adapt from being science-minded to be more holistic. I have my first placement in January which I think is why I'm writing this, I think I'm doubting my abilities and whether I have enough 'people skills' as I'm quite quiet.

YANBU. You can change your mind. If you’re looking for permission here it is. Things will work out. You would know by now if it was for you - it’s not, so leave and chalk it up to experience.

It's normal to be nervous before your first placement!

I spent my first three months of teaching with a permanent tic under my eye from the stress.

I reckon stick with it. You might surprise yourself. And being quiet / a listener is a positive boon in this profession. What you don't want is a therapist who talks all the time herself!

As with anything it's an adjustment. You don't walk straight into a job knowing it all! I'm sure you just have pre placement nerves. I am generally quiet by nature and my background is in nursing, healthcare needs all sorts of people, as patients are all sorts of people!

Of course you can change your mind but I'd give yourself a bit more time.

Stick with it OP.
I did very similarly to you and qualified as an OT last year at 41 years old. Total career change.
During my first year and first placement I really questioned my life choices but I'm so glad I stuck with it

I’d stick with it for now at least OP. You might find that you love your placement, you might not, but you should probably give it a fair go even just so you know you’ve made the right choice.

The people skills needed for the job can usually be learnt. I know plenty of socially awkward speech therapists.

Ask questions and look like you’re taking plenty of notes on placement and you’ll be fine.

Stick with it at least until you have been on a couple of placements and at least one placement with children.

SLT is a dream job if you like working with children, think of it as "play with a purpose" - plus for "equipment" you get a cupboard full of toys!

The most fun part in my experience is turning on a sixpence and adapting when a child is not interested in the slightest in the activity you had planned to reach your therapy objectives for that session, so you have to think on your feet and come up with a Plan B based on what the child IS interested in doing.

Never a dull moment or operating on auto-pilot when you are working with children.

With your scientific background the academic side might (fingers crossed) also become more appealing as you get further into the subject. Biochemistry will give you a head start in some areas whereas "arts background" students will be starting from scratch. You might find that you coast through some of those modules and will be wondering why fellow students are worrying that they can't get their heads around the scientific stuff and are not cut out for SLT.

I'm a SLT and it's ok. I don't love it but I feel like I'm in the minority because a lot of my colleagues absolutely love it. I can't quite put my finger on why I'm less enamoured with it but it must be me rather than the job since others think it's great. A positive thing is that there are so many areas you could go into. It's a really broad and diverse job. I loved the degree and enjoyed my placements although it was hard work.

I totally felt like this too, but there are people like us! Plenty have left the profession too. I've been one for 10 years now. I would say I said the same thing in the first few years "I don't love it, but its ok" and I thought that was because i still didn't have lots of experience and lacked confidence. Now that i have the experience and confidence, i can say confidently I don't like my job, and sometimes hate it. Last couple years I've been trying different things hoping i would find that spark. Currently i am doing a dysphagia course. I'm not sure if thats right for me either but i will give it a couple years before i decide whether its for me or not.
From someone with a lot of regret, my advice is don't be scared to leave the profession for a little while, especially if you are still early in your career.

I think it's worth giving it a chance and seeing what your placement is like. It's a very intense course and a lot of the subjects I found less interesting I have never used since I qualified. There are so many different areas to try out, you might prefer a hospital setting with your scientific background. I'm probably biased as I love my career, I've never been bored in 20 years! I found office jobs genuine torture, I can't sit down all day.

As for being quiet, I think it's a bonus. SLTs should listen more than they talk!

That's comforting to hear in a way, knowing I'm not alone. I also keep thinking I'll grow to like it more with more experience and confidence, but I'm almost 6 years in and still don't feel comfortable in my role. I'm about to leave my current job for a new one which will be more focused on communication than dysphagia, which is what I've mostly been doing so far. Not sure how I feel about it! I'm going to give myself some time and if I still feel this way in, say, 3-4 years then I think I can leave the profession having given it a proper chance.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!