WHY I BECAME A SPEECH THERAPIST AND WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT IT

A QUIET PRESENCE, A LASTING INFLUENCE

In loving memory of my father, Dr. Waled Hossain Chowdhury (January 6, 1947-November 3, 2025), whose life of compassion and service continues to inspire me.

As a child, I would watch my father in his office, a quiet presence in a bustling world of patients, charts, and questions. He treated each patient as a whole, never rushing, always listening. First visits could last an hour, sometimes longer, not just to examine symptoms but to understand the person, their concerns, their story. Even then, I sensed the patience, the empathy, the care, and I knew I wanted to do something that mattered in a similar way. 

FINDING MY PATH

My journey into speech therapy grew from early inspiration from my father. I didn’t always know I’d end up in speech-language pathology. What I did know was that being around children felt natural to me. I loved playing with them and seeing their personalities bloom. Helping them find their voice became one of the most meaningful parts of my life, watching confidence take shape one word, one sound, one small breakthrough at a time.

When I discovered speech therapy, it felt like everything clicked. It was science, heart, problem-solving, creativity, and human connection all wrapped into one. In so many ways, it felt like home, aligning with the kindness, service, and integrity my dad embodied in his own practice as a doctor.

LEARNING FROM MY FATHER

My dad didn’t lecture me on how to be kind or how to be thorough. He lived it. In his private practice, he treated every patient as a whole person, never rushing, always listening. He would spend an entire hour or more on a first visit, not just examining symptoms but understanding the patient, their concerns, their story. I remember him asking me about my practice, curious and proud, always encouraging me to approach it the way he did his: with thoroughness, patience, and care. 

When I first began my evaluations, I realized how much his lessons had already taken root in me. My initial assessments can take up to three hours because, like him, I want to understand the whole child, their story, their strengths, their challenges, before deciding the best path forward. Every observation, every question, every moment of listening carries his influence.

THE HEART OF MY WORK

What I love most about being a speech therapist is the privilege of being invited into a family’s world. I get to witness the tiny victories that others might miss, the first “mama,” the first clear sentence, the first time a child looks up with pride because they hear their own progress.

I love that no two children are alike. Every child brings their own personality, challenges, and spark. My job is to meet each child right where they are, to build trust, and to help them grow in a way that feels safe and empowering. When I see a child struggling, unsure, or frustrated, I can hear my dad’s voice in my mind: Take your time. Pay attention. Show up with your whole heart.

It’s the same philosophy he used with his patients, now guiding me in helping children find their voices. Celebrating the tiny victories, cheering on progress, listening without judgment, and responding with care. These are the moments that define my work, just as they defined his.

CARRYING MY DAD WITH ME

Losing my father changed me. I see the world differently. My work differently. The children I serve differently. Grief reshapes perspective, but so does love. My dad’s lessons are woven into the foundation of my practice. He taught me:

How to lead with integrity.
How to stay calm when things feel overwhelming.
How to treat every person with respect.
How to give without expecting anything in return.

Every time I help a child find their voice, every time I reassure a worried parent, every time I show up with patience and compassion, I feel like I’m honoring him. I feel him there. I feel the echoes of his voice, the patience he embodied, and the love he shared.

WHY I KEEP GOING

Speech therapy is more than a career, it is a calling. It is the place where my skills, my heart, and my father’s lessons all come together.

I do this work beause it matters.
Because communication is connection.
Because every child deserves to be heard.
Because every parent deserves someone who sees their child’s potential clearly and fiercely.

I do it, in so many ways, because of my dad. He shaped who I am, and who I am is the therapist I bring into every single session.

This blog, this practice, is for him.
Always.