She realized her passion for children when volunteering with AmeriCorps in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at a pre-school. She helped at-risk children who worked with speech therapists. After seeing the children interact with the therapists, Bridget concluded she wanted to become a speech pathologist.
The graduate student earned her bachelor's degree of art in history. She needed to complete a leveling program in order to pursue her new-found love for communicative disorders. ENMU had the perfect program for her that allowed flexibility for her military family. After the leveling program, her master's degree felt "like the natural next step.'
The 27-year-old lives with her husband in Junction City, Kansas, two hours west of Kansas City.
Though graduate courses consume most of her time, she likes to read, ice-skate, hike with her dog, kayak, fish and volunteer at her church when she has free time.
Her dream job is to work as a speech language pathologist at a summer camp. She also is interested in working or volunteering in outpatient pediatrics in other countries with a high Spanish-speaking population.
She hopes to visit every country in South America before she dies. So far, she has studied abroad in Ecuador.
The communicative disorders major enjoys the flexibility of her program.
"I've attended class from coffee shops, libraries and friends' houses across six states. I can go from full- time to part-time without hassle--not a lot of grad students in our field can say that,' she said.
The flexibility allows her to live out her dreams and spend time with her friends, husband and dog.
Bridget also likes the interaction between faculty and peers in the online setting. Her professors and peers "know her by name' though she isn't in a classroom with them.
"Most online masters programs in our field aren't set up for as much interaction with professors and other students as ENMU's is,' she said.
During her courses, she has learned how technology can improve her future career. Technology has taught her to be adaptable and to utilize it in beneficial ways. Her professors also challenge her to "critically evaluate every claim' she
hears.
"These are skills I can carry with me into the therapy room--where you never know who you will meet or what might happen,' she said.
