By Puneet Sidhu

While exploring different career paths during undergrad, I volunteered with individuals with diverse communication needs and quickly realized how much we take communication for granted. What impacted me most was seeing how something as simple as expressing a thought, telling a story, or asking for help could shape someone’s confidence, independence, and sense of self. 

As a multilingual first-generation Punjabi Canadian, I also became more aware of the barriers many South Asian families face when navigating healthcare. That made me realize how much I want to use my language skills and cultural understanding to provide culturally safe care that helps people feel seen and supported. 

From the beginning, I knew admission into an MSLP program would be competitive, so my goal was to build a well-rounded application with diverse experiences across different age groups and settings. Over the past three years, I’ve worked as a support worker at a daycare, a home-based behaviour interventionist, and a speech-language pathology assistant. I also volunteered with Columbia Speech and Language Services’ aphasia group and Alzheimer Society of British Columbia’s Minds in Motion program.

These experiences taught me the importance of adaptability, empathy, and advocacy in this field. Working with both children and adults also helped me discover new interests and grow more confident in my abilities across the lifespan.

My research and classroom experiences also played a huge role in my success. Working as a research assistant in Dr. Henny Yeung’s Language Learning and Development Lab gave me the opportunity to complete an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award, explore my own research questions, and present my work at the UBC Language Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (‘Caregiver English Proficiency and English Use in IDS and ADS: A Naturalistic LENA Study’). 

I’m also very grateful to Dr. Ashley Farris-Trimble, with whom I took three classes, including a graduate-level course, LING 812, last summer, and to Linguistics Student Advisor Rita Parmar for her mentorship, encouragement, and support throughout my degree, which helped me create a well-rounded application. 

Regarding the letter of intent, my biggest goal was authenticity. Instead of sounding like a list of achievements, I wanted it to reflect who I am, what experiences shaped me, and what I offer to each graduate program and the field of Speech-Language Pathology. I spent months brainstorming and rewriting because, with no interview component, this was my only opportunity to show admissions committees who I was beyond grades and experiences. 

One of the biggest things I learned during the process was that you really have to advocate for yourself. It can feel uncomfortable at first, but your letter is the place to explain the meaning behind your experiences rather than just listing them. Admissions committees can already see your experiences on paper, but your letter is where you explain why those experiences matter and how they have shaped the kind of clinician and person you want to become.

I took a narrative approach, focusing on showing rather than telling by reflecting on the moments that inspired me to pursue SLP and connecting them to the skills I developed along the way. I also researched each program carefully, including specific courses and research labs that aligned with my interests, so every letter was intentional and tailored. 

In the end, I probably went through over ten drafts, but that process helped me create something authentic instead of trying to write what I thought admissions committees wanted to hear. 

If I could give one piece of advice to myself as a first-year, I’d say: Do it. Even if you’re scared.

When I first decided I wanted to pursue SLP, I doubted myself a lot because of how competitive the field is. There were opportunities I didn’t apply for early on because I felt underqualified or scared of failure. Looking back, some of the experiences that shaped me the most came from taking chances before I felt fully ready. 

I also wish I had been a little easier on myself. I’ve always been my own biggest critic, and because I cared so deeply about reaching this goal, I put a lot of pressure on myself. Looking back now, I realize growth takes time, and it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away.

I’d remind myself not to compare my journey to anyone else’s. Everyone brings different strengths and perspectives into this field, and learning to trust my own path made the process much more fulfilling. 

To future applicants, I would say: Believe in yourself even on the hard days. Stay disciplined, advocate for yourself, and trust that your unique experiences and perspectives matter. Application season can feel stressful and overwhelming, and I would advise everyone to plan ahead, especially if you are enrolled in full-time classes during applications. Having a strong support system makes a huge difference, whether that’s friends, family, professors, or mentors who encourage you and remind you of your abilities during difficult moments. 

Most importantly, this journey has challenged me in many ways, but it also taught me the importance of believing in yourself before feeling fully ready. 

I truly would not be here without the support and mentorship of the people around me. I want to thank Rita Parmar, Dr. Henny Yeung, Abigail Agyeiwaa, and Dr. Ashley Farris-Trimble for believing in me and giving me opportunities that helped shape both my confidence and growth throughout this journey.