Early Career Reference Group
Doing, being, becoming and belonging
FEELING OVERWHELMED?
Well, it turns out you are not alone.
Ann Wilcock an occupational therapist recently completed
research in doing, being and becoming. Her work titled
Reflections on doing, being and becoming*
listed doing as the
need to produce some form of product, think of it like a task. At
university, you are set an assignment and expected to complete
it. Being is about who we are, that is the important roles in our
lives. This may include being a speech pathology student. While
becoming focuses on the choices made, failures, successes and
everyday experiences that enable us to become better clinicians
and better people. These individualised elements culminate
in belonging. Belonging encompasses a sense of community
through participation and shared values.
So, what does this look like in the Speech Pathology profession?
Doing
“The last four years on my journey to become a speech pathologist has involved questioning
myself many times – am I doing too little? Am I doing too much? It has involved doing tasks
that I have been interested in and inspired by, and some that were a little more tedious.
“My time at university has required me to do tasks to meet expectations - attend lectures,
tutorials, placements and complete assignments. There were also purposeful actions that
I did because I felt they were important to who I wanted to be as a speech pathologist; I
volunteered, I networked, I attended professional development and I became a member of
the SPA Victoria Branch.
“Everything I have done and am doing continues to shape my identity as a speech
pathologist and as a human being.”
Gemma Rebbechi
RECENT RESEARCH REFLECTS ON HOW EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES CAN INFORM BETTER CLINICAL
PRACTICE AND FOR PRACTITIONERS TO GROW AS INDIVIDUALS.
Being
“The transition from ‘being’ a speech pathology student to ‘being’ a speech
pathologist has been an exciting, hectic, challenging yet rewarding transition.
In my first year out, I juggled multiple roles, had little guidance and support, and
realised that a work life balance is something I will have to continue to work on.
Despite these challenges, embracing opportunities has helped to open new doors.
While I am still not used to calling myself a speech pathologist, working in a field
that I’m passionate about (and hopefully make a difference in), having the freedom
to find my own pathway, and build relationships with students and colleagues
makes ‘being’ a speech pathologist where I want to be.”
Jaclyn Georgiou
April 2017
www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.auSpeak Out
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