大象传媒

By Nicole North

Department of Linguistics graduate Nina Bautista has been chosen by 大象传媒 to receive The University Women鈥檚 Club of Vancouver Award for the Hearing Impaired. The award is for students who are breaking boundaries by working towards big goals. For many years, Nina鈥檚 goal has been to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. 

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are professionals who evaluate, diagnose and treat a wide range of speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders. SLPs work with people of all ages, from newborns to seniors. To become an SLP, one must gain acceptance into a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. Acceptance into these prestigious programs is highly competitive. 

Finally, this spring, Nina received word that she had earned admission to the .  

What inspired you to pursue becoming an SLP?

When I was 11 years old, I lost my hearing in my left ear due to a car accident. The sudden change was extremely dif铿乧ult for me as a child at the time; I had to deal with all sorts of medical, academic, and social obstacles. My Speech-Language Pathologist was very caring and treated me exactly the way I wanted to be treated as a preteen navigating this disability鈥攁ccepted for who I was. I was very inspired by my SLP鈥檚 efforts in making me feel understood, which is now my main driving force for pursuing Speech-Language Pathology. I intend on being a clinician who creates a space for my clients to also feel heard, and ultimately empathize with them deeply as someone who has been down a similar path.

鈥淚 am passionate about creating spaces where people, especially those with disabilities, feel understood and empowered to reach for their wildest dreams.鈥�

Which aspects of your academic journey at 大象传媒 have shaped you the most?

I have always been interested in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), which is why my academic background re铿俥cts a direction towards both TESL and Speech Sciences. I鈥檝e been at 大象传媒 since September 2019, and I have always been in Linguistics! My passion for various areas within Linguistics has only grown stronger as I studied here at 大象传媒. I am super excited to be graduating on June 12th. 

Although I have been at 大象传媒 for many years, time really 铿俰es. I do not regret taking my time to explore the many classes and programs that 大象传媒 has to offer, and I even went on a Study Abroad semester to Yonsei University in South Korea back in 2022.

I have volunteered as a HIVE Leader for 大象传媒鈥檚 Welcome Day to help mentor 铿乺st-year students also interested in Linguistics, which was such a fun experience! I loved taking the time to promote my love for this major to new students. [Note: Apply to be a HIVE Welcome Leader by July 2nd.]

I have been an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Language Learning and Development (LangDev) Lab at 大象传媒 for over a year now. I have loved getting the chance to be a part of the meticulous process that is research; I have a deep appreciation for all researchers who dedicate so much time and effort to contributing to this 铿乪ld of language acquisition! 

I am so grateful to all my fellow research assistants, researchers, and staff at the LangDev Lab, especially our lab director, Dr. Henny Yeung, who has allowed me to be closely involved in many of our projects at the lab!

Which instructors have inspired and challenged you the most?

Many of the Linguistics and Education courses at 大象传媒 have been extremely instrumental in preparing me for a career in Speech-Language Pathology. I found Learning Disabilities (EDUC 422) to be very insightful on how cognitive challenges that individuals with learning disabilities face intersect quite a lot with speech and language development. It also helped shine a light on the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. I really liked how case studies were incorporated throughout the material and our assignments in the class, allowing us to apply what we have learned. 

I鈥檝e found that the many courses I have taken with Dr. Claudia Wong Einwag, such as Applied Linguistics (LING 360), have been very rewarding and useful in my preparations for SLP. Having taken so many courses with her, I have not only developed a deep appreciation for the complexities of language acquisition, but also how we can apply these concepts to the real world. Even in the classes I have taken with her within the TESL Certi铿乧ate Program at 大象传媒, I have found that the topics I have learned with her have been particularly valuable in shaping how I approach SLP, by understanding the nuances of language development and how this can be applied in speech interventions. 

What is the personal signi铿乧ance of higher education to you, and what drives you as a human? 

I feel like 鈥渟tudent鈥� is always the 铿乺st thing I say when someone asks me to introduce myself. Education has been a constant source of growth and empowerment for me. As someone with a disability, education has played a big role in helping me to learn how to advocate for myself and 铿乶d my voice. 

Education has become more than just a path towards my future career. I am passionate about creating spaces where people, especially those with disabilities, feel understood and empowered to reach for their wildest dreams. I 铿乺mly believe that our abilities should be what de铿乶e us, not our disabilities. It is my lifelong goal to show others what people with disabilities can accomplish when they are given the support and space to do so.

I currently work as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), where I have been working with children with developmental disorders. There is nothing more ful铿乴ling and rewarding than witnessing even the smallest bit of progress my clients make. Whether it鈥檚 an imitation of a word, a second of eye contact, or a successful expression of something they want, these moments fuel my drive and passion for this 铿乪ld.

Beyond my professional goals, my life has been grounded in the belief that true progress is made when we lift each other up, celebrate our little victories, and break down the barriers that limit our potential.

鈥淚 铿乺mly believe that our abilities should be what de铿乶e us, not our disabilities. It is my lifelong goal to show others what people with disabilities can accomplish when they are given the support and space to do so.鈥�

Please share your advice for gaining admittance into an SLP program.

One of my biggest pieces of advice would be to start your application as early as possible. I began writing my letter of intent and started to reach out to my potential references during the summer, even though the application period did not open until October鈥揘ovember. 

I think I went through at least six drafts of my letter of intent before I was really satis铿乪d with it 鈥攈uge shoutout to the Linguistics Advisor, Rita Parmar, who gave such amazing advice on how I could improve on my drafts each time. By my 铿乶al draft, I had been told by many people that they could really hear my voice in my writing, as though I was speaking to them directly! 

Another piece of advice would be to diversify your application as best as you can. There are hundreds of great applicants that you are up against; 铿乬ure out what makes you unique, and really emphasize that throughout your application. Work in SLP-related 铿乪lds, volunteer with a wide range of age groups in various settings, assist in research at a research lab, and most importantly, take time to re铿俥ct on why exactly you want to pursue this 铿乪ld.