I never thought I would be an active alumnus, especially after grad school.
That all changed when about three years ago, a former classmate invited me to join the alumni board that liaises with the GWU Speech and Hearing department. The experience has afforded me opportunities to reconnect with my professors and to help recent grads find jobs here in New York. I was talking to the Department Chair on a call this past Spring, when the idea of a guest lecture arose, and she invited me to speak with a cohort of students in their advanced pediatrics class1.
Given the choice to present over Zoom or come down to D.C., I decided to take advantage of my flexible summer schedule and do some work travel. I mean, everyone else gets to travel for work…why shouldn’t I?? It was worth the quick turn around to see some close friends who still live in the area and also do something professionally novel and fulfilling.
Wednesday, July 16th
Train travel is the best way to get to Washington from NYC and you can’t convince me otherwise. Upon arrival, I went straight from Union Station to the Sixty DC right off Dupont Circle. Their flagship hotel is in the Lower East Side, so when I saw that they recently (like within the last six weeks) opened a beautiful new location in my old neighborhood I knew I had to check it out2.
Before meeting up with a family friend at Balos down the street for dinner, I took some time to relax in my room and look over my slides. Talking to graduate students is so different than talking to parents and other professionals, which is my usual audience these days. It’s a delicate balance between quickly gaining their trust, inspiring self-reflection and engagement in discussions, and teaching new information.
Wait. Did I mention that this hotel has great robes? They’re apparently from a company called La Bottega [no relation to Veneta, unfortunately] who makes hotel and spa robes for various hotel groups, but this version had a hood and it was so plush and cozy. Obviously I had to look them up in case I want to order one for myself. Sixty doesn’t sell them, but Marriott buys the same exact style for their Edition hotels.
Nothing better than a great robe and catching up on Real Housewives of Miami to calm the nerves after a yummy meal. (I call it Towel Time®)
Thursday, July 17th
In the morning I picked up a cherry almond scone and iced coffee at Tatte Bakery down the block—both delicious—before heading to Foggy Bottom where GW’s main campus is located.
I had planned to take the Circulator, but found out operations ceased at the end of last year due to lack of ridership! Devastating because I love taking the bus, and I can be a bit of a NIMBY (secret’s out).
I presented to approximately 60 graduate students going into their second year of the program. From my personal experience, not all of them will have an interest in pediatrics or working in schools. As a result, I needed to make sure I provided a comprehensive, multifaceted viewpoint of the material, so that the information could be applied to a range of ages and populations.
First, I outlined the various types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and described how they can present behaviorally in a classroom. I made it a point to mention that having a language-based learning disability does not reflect someone’s level of intelligence, and in fact many students can demonstrate significant talents and excel in their passions when given the right resources and agency.
I then pointed out that Dyslexia is characterized as a neurobiological disorder, meaning that there is often a family history and genetic link. It is highly likely that within certain communities, multiple generations of a family have lived with undetected Dyslexia and/or other learning disabilities.
This is especially true in areas with fewer resources. What are the ramifications of lacking appropriate intervention? Well, reading below a 4th grade level has a statistically significant correlation to lower socioeconomic status and a higher likelihood of imprisonment in the United States.
From there, I defined executive functioning and we talked about how basic language concepts are embedded within these daily-used skills.
And of course, I shared about using project-based learning as an intervention that supports all areas of language, academics, and executive functioning.
After speaking with a few of the students and some of my professors, I celebrated being done with a couple of friends over lunch in Georgetown.
It was a balmy 94 degrees, but a pitstop at Baked and Wired just down the street was still mandatory. I can’t go to D.C. without stopping by, it’s an imperative. Afterwards I made my way back to the train station bound home for New York.
24 hours well spent, and hopefully more trips like this to come very soon!
The introductory class, which we call Peds I, focuses on typical language development from early childhood to adulthood. Peds II is about the various populations we serve as SLP’s, as well as best practices for evidenced based assessment and treatment
Not sponsored, but I’d love to be sponsored @sixtyhotels!