SOP, respecting privacy rights, and other issues ??

[Speechwhale2019]

Hey! This is my first post so let me know if I didn't do it correctly please. 

So writing my statement if purpose for 2019 fall admissions....heres my background and the jist of my issues... 

Unlike others, I don't have a family member with a disability. My parents own their own business supporting people with disabilities. Since I was 3, my parents would bring me to work with them everyday because I think my mom had this irrational fear that I would be abducted by my babysitter.

Ok not important, BUT because of this, until I was about 13 I was going to work with my parents and helping push wheelchairs, and going on outings with them and their clients. So I am familiar with a wide range of disabilities and wonderful people and ahhh I love them so much. 

Anyway, I knew I loved working with people with disabilities because it's my family's whole life, and I still see the clients a lot. Additionally, this summer I started working for my parents as a second job. 

I started volunteering in my High school special education class and that's when I fell in love with Autism, and learned about speech pathology. But I didn't know that I could work with people with brain injury, cerebral palsy, or dementias! I discovered that in my anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing class. So I found out I could also work with adults with those conditions/disabilities (sorry that's such awkward wording and I don't know how to say it any better! Sorry). 

Additionally, I work at a hospital and go into the NICU a lot and the nurses always talk to me about how important the Slps are to these infants and feeding. So I'm also intrigued with pediatric feeding and swallowing. 

 

So how do I protect privacy in my statement of purpose as to why I want to be a speech language pathologist? I don't want to write a novel and I haven't even included in my "brief" summary about how these individuals have personally impacted me and how now when I see them I'm like omg I'm literally watching swallowing precautions and they're following them! There's actually more important information but I don't want to violate privacy because a.) That's just wrong and b.) It would look really bad if I can't protect privacy. 

I don't really even feel comfortable posting this! I'm all about that privacy, yo.

Also...i feel like I'm banking off of my parents business and what my parents do...its my whole life but still...it sounds not good. 

How can I discuss it in my SOP without writing a novel, and respecting privacy, and making it connected and not sound like I'm using my parents achievements? 

 

Thankyou, and let me know if I revealed too much and should delete this! 

I want to keep it vague but not too vague. 

 

Ok have a wonderful day, let me know what I should Do! 

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[Jordyn_M463]

I am not sure what kind of privacy you are worried about invading. I feel like if you don't mention names of people, it really isn't an issue. You could somehow sum up your "life experiences" as your "calling to the field" at the beginning of your statement. Just say you grew up observing and helping out in a family owned practice that provides care for individuals with disabilities and that was motivation to continue that path as you got older. Volunteering in high school and working in the NICU/hospital only solidified your desire to help others even more, which is why you strive to be an SLP. I just wouldn't say "Jane Doe had dysphagia and I witnessed swallowing techniques from an SLP, and knew this is what I wanted to do". You can be extremely generic about how working with people with disabilities has been a huge part of your life and how it has shaped you as a person. (ie. empathetic, determined, patient, etc) And how those qualities would make you a good SLP. 

Obviously this is just my opinion, but that is what I would do if I were you. I talked about my "calling" being my interaction with individuals with disabilities in high school and how some struggled with communication. I never used names of schools, or people. I just kept it anonymous and as generic as I could without being too impersonal. 

Best of luck!

[Speechwhale2019]

28 minutes ago, Jordyn_M463 said:

I am not sure what kind of privacy you are worried about invading. I feel like if you don't mention names of people, it really isn't an issue. You could somehow sum up your "life experiences" as your "calling to the field" at the beginning of your statement. Just say you grew up observing and helping out in a family owned practice that provides care for individuals with disabilities and that was motivation to continue that path as you got older. Volunteering in high school and working in the NICU/hospital only solidified your desire to help others even more, which is why you strive to be an SLP. I just wouldn't say "Jane Doe had dysphagia and I witnessed swallowing techniques from an SLP, and knew this is what I wanted to do". You can be extremely generic about how working with people with disabilities has been a huge part of your life and how it has shaped you as a person. (ie. empathetic, determined, patient, etc) And how those qualities would make you a good SLP. 

Obviously this is just my opinion, but that is what I would do if I were you. I talked about my "calling" being my interaction with individuals with disabilities in high school and how some struggled with communication. I never used names of schools, or people. I just kept it anonymous and as generic as I could without being too impersonal. 

Best of luck!

Thanks so much!

[AP]

If you don't give any names, why are you concerned about privacy? 

I agree with you that you shouldn't write a novel. Stick to the professional. Do the AdComms need to know the business is your parents? Why not say something like "I have been exposed to people with disabilities since I was three. My family owns a family business where I spent many hours in my childhood through my adolescence"? Period. Only provide the information useful for your case.