Samantha Sussman, '11

Q. Why did you choose Emerson?
I was attracted to Emerson's community feeling within the department and the professors' open door policy. The students appeared dedicated to their clients and motivated to get the most out of their education.

Q. What do you love about your field/major?
I love everything about speech-language pathology. I love the flexibility to work in different areas within the field. I love that I will be challenged every day. I love the autonomy. But most of all, I love that I have the opportunity to help people.

Q. How does the Emerson community help you thrive as a student?
The professors challenge us to problem solve on our own, which helps build our independence. However, they are always there to support us and to answer our questions as well as provide us with feedback to help us become more effective clinicians.

Q. Describe a typical day or week.
A typical day depends on students' clinical placements. Most often students work at their clinical placements in the mornings and afternoons and attend classes in the evenings. Placements are either in-house at the Robbins Center or in the community (e.g., an elementary school, a skilled nursing facility).

Q. How have Emerson faculty helped you?
The faculty have provided me with the fundamental knowledge so that I can feel comfortable and confident to make my own clinical decisions that are best for my clients.

Q. How have you changed personally between your first day at Emerson and now?
My Emerson education has given me the confidence that I will be successful in the field I have chosen. When I started school, I was intimidated by the thought of working on my own. Now I am excited by the idea of working on my own and I feel prepared to do so.

Q. What do you hope to do with your Emerson degree?
I plan to work with adults in an outpatient, inpatient, or skilled nursing facility as a speech-language pathologist.

Q. What advice would you give to an incoming Emerson student?
The hard work pays off!