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Janine Vuong stands on the Commencement stage as a proud graduate, earning her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology. During her years at 91��Ƭ��, both as an undergrad and graduate student, Janine served as the historian, treasurer, president and graduate chair of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA). During one of her summers, she also volunteered at Camp Nugget, where she got the chance to work with students from other disciplines, including the Adapted Physical Education program. This was a meaningful experience for Janine, as she had the opportunity to work with students with disabilities, and help support their language and communication needs. 

“I initially learned about speech-language pathology through a show where a contestant shared that she was in this field (shoutout to the Bachelor),” Janine said. “What started as a simple curiosity quickly turned into genuine interest, as I learned how vast and impactful the field truly is. This has only been reiterated throughout my coursework and clinical experiences, when working with both children and adults across a variety of settings. Each day, I am reminded of how deeply communication is embedded into every aspect of our lives, such as being able to share our thoughts and emotions with our loved ones, or having everyday conversations. Communication is such a central part of our quality of life, and something we sometimes take for granted.” 

During her time at 91��Ƭ��, Janine says, beyond all the exams and class assignments, she learned about the significance of empathizing with others, and recognizing everyone as individuals. 

“It’s easy to make quick assumptions and judge others, especially because we are all so intrinsically different. However, it’s crucial to recognize everyone’s personal experiences, which are not always visible.” 

This lesson was able to be played out while Janine was working with her varied clients at the 91��Ƭ�� Speech-Language Clinic. 

“All my clients that I had the opportunity to support at the 91��Ƭ�� Speech and Language Clinic profoundly shaped my clinical journey and the way I view the world. Their resilience through navigating and persevering against unfathomable obstacles has reminded me what strength can look like. Moving forward, I hope to serve my community by helping individuals develop or rebuild the skills to effectively communicate with others, while approaching each individual with empathy, by validating their emotions and ensuring they feel heard and supported through their journey.” 

Congratulations, Janine!