MSc Year 1

So year 1 of an MSc. First thing to say - it will be just like doing a BSc but a bit more intense right??? How wrong could I be!! I didn't realise that it would be a higher level, as well as getting qualified as an SLT in two years instead of three. I think its probably one of the hardest and yet one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done. So what have I learnt in year 1?

That having 20 other fantastic people on the course with you makes it, and despite our wide spread of ages and backgrounds we all get on well and support each other - I truly would not have got through last year without them.

That I can do science - Having given up science at 14 and being convinced I was rubbish at it, I was terrified of anatomy - but somehow passed my first exams well and understand at least some of it :-)

That the world of Speech and Language Therapy is so wide and deep - there is so much knowledge, so many different areas to work in, so much to learn and enjoy, and I've only touched the tip of the iceberg and am still learning new things every day.

That failing is not the end of the world. I failed my first assignment, and it honestly felt like the end of the world. Over the weekend after I first found out I cried a lot, I doubted that I could do the course academically, and I didn't know where to start to make it better - I'd worked so hard on it. But with fantastic support from my lecturers not only did I get a much better grade on it second time round, but even more importantly I learnt how to write more academically again and each assignment has been better since because of failing.

That there are no easy placements emotionally speaking. As SLTs we are privileged to work with hugely varied caseloads, often working with people in times of great need. That can be hard and upsetting, but also so so rewarding.

That this course, and this career, brings so many opportunities. I could write a whole new blog post on any of the following (and do contact me if you'd like to hear more about specific things), but opportunities last year included working with specialist SLTs in community and hospital settings, attending so many interesting seminars and webinars, becoming a student social prescribing champion, setting up an informal buddying scheme between 2nd and 1st year MSc students at BCU, and so much more.

Year 1 changed me from a scared SLTA who honestly wasn't sure she could do this to a bold, grab every opportunity, confident SLT to be.