story by Claire Miller
Eunji Kim initially planned to become an elementary school teacher. But after taking a few early childhood education courses, she realized she preferred working with children in smaller groups.
At her husband’s suggestion, Kim shadowed some speech-language pathologists and searched for videos about speech-language pathology on YouTube to learn more about the field.
“I loved what speech-language pathologists did – helping children communicate and having an impact on both children and their families,” she said. “My love for children and helping others drew me into this field.”
Kim switched to the communication sciences and disorders program and worked with several Atlanta-area clients and their families in the College of Education & Human Development’s Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.
She also completed an internship at Pharr Elementary School in Snellville, Ga., where she spent time with the school’s four speech-language pathologists and received hands-on experience working with children on their communication skills.
“It was truly so fun going to work every single day because I couldn’t anticipate what the kids would do or say,” she said. “It was an amazing experience to witness kids who did not say a single word start expressing their wants and needs with visuals.”
After graduating in December, Kim will become a speech-language pathologist at Oakland Meadow School in Lawrenceville, Ga. – a position that she’s confidently prepared to begin.
“Throughout my time at Georgia State University, I’ve always been so thankful for all of my professors, clients and classmates,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade my time at Georgia State for any other program.”