Meet Our Major: Rachel Bulten

COVID-19 was not anticipated nor in the plans of anyone, including Calvin SPAUD graduate student Rachel Bulten. But with the help of technology, amazing professors, and clinical instructors, Rachel is able to graduate and receive all of her clinical hours required to do so.

 What you would be doing under normal circumstances, and how that has changed.

Normally, I would be finishing up my fifth semester of clinical experience at Excel Charter Academy and transitioning to my last internship at Butterworth Hospital. Given that schools are currently closed due to COVID-19 and that hospitals are only allowing essential personnel in, my clinical experiences have drastically changed! The program adapted quickly, and I now conduct therapy sessions via teletherapy for Calvin’s Speech and Hearing Clinic. Teletherapy is a growing field in speech pathology and getting this opportunity to participate in this type of therapy is a unique experience that I’m grateful for.

What people and experiences at Calvin prepared you for a career in speech pathology, especially to apply it during this unprecedented time of pandemic?

The SPAUD professors and the various clinical experiences offered by Calvin has prepared me well for a career in speech pathology. In every class I’ve taken at Calvin, the professors have gone out of their way to support me. I’ve had professors stay after class to explain material again, meet with me during office hours (virtually!) to talk about how I am doing personally, and had me over to their house for pizza. Secondly, the program has given me five unique clinical experiences across settings. I’ve had experience in an outpatient clinic, subacute rehab facility, a school, a hospital, and now teletherapy!

 Why did you choose to major in speech pathology? How has that played out during this pandemic?

My belief that ‘everyone has the right to communicate’ is the main reason I chose this field. I have an outgoing personality and thrive off of communication with others and it was unsettling to me that some people didn’t have the ability to communicate freely. I knew that I wanted to be a part of helping people access their right to communicate. During this pandemic, I would say now more than ever communication with loved ones is invaluable. Despite clinics being closed, I’ve been working with a team to jumpstart Calvin’s clinic on a teletherapy platform so we can continue to help our client access their right to communicate.

What’s one thing you would want to tell someone starting their journey toward becoming a Speech Pathologist… feel free to apply it to the current pandemic situation.

You never know what setting you will be working in. I never imagined that I would have an internship via teletherapy, but here I am providing services via teletherapy!

How has your faith grown during this time?

My faith has grown immensely during my time at Calvin, and in this pandemic. The main thing I’ve learned is that God is in control. Even though my internships have changed, even though graduation is postponed, even though the job search may be a little harder, God is in control. I find so much peace knowing that God’s plan is perfect and he ultimately is in control of my future.

Describe Calvin in three words or less

Faith. Community. Growth.