Dear CFs: Take A Picture!

Dear CFs: Take A Picture! Why? Because you’ll soon be embarking on one of the most exciting, terrifying, exhilarating, rewarding, exhausting, and just plain awesome careers! If you’re about to start your CF (clinical fellowship to those non-speechies), you’re probably nervous. I was!! It’s normal! So before you head out the door on your first day, take a selfie and save it. This time next year, pull it out and reflect on all you’ve learned in just a year!

Although I’m about to start my 6th year as an SLP, I remember all too well the first year. Grad school prepared me  with the textbook knowledge base and some clinical practice, but definitely not for all the land mines I felt like I navigated around during the first year. I still have some of those “first day jitters,” but in a different way. It will all be ok though. You might cry a little – that’s ok! You might feel like you have NO idea what you’re doing. That’s ok too!

To get you started, here are some posts from myself and other SLP bloggers to help ease the way. But I really think that you’ll make it and you’ll look back on this year and smile!

5 Tips To Survive The Beginning of the School Year (from me)

Getting Organized For A New School Year (from me)

Email Templates For Teachers (from me)

Clinical Skills Confidence: Staying On Top of IEP Deadlines (from me)

Ready…Set…Go…for a NEW School Year (from me)

How To Prepare for Back To School (from Natalie Snyders)

How I Get My Teachers Ready for Speech (from The Speech Bubble SLP)

SLP 101: Scheduling (from Speech Room News)

Hope these help you get started! Don’t worry, you’ll be fabulous!