Help Yourself while Helping Others

Texas A&M International University's National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is a program for students that are pursuing a degree in Communication Disorders. The program mainly provides information on communication disorders, audiology and hearing science. This information is for students that are interested in going to graduate schools or for outlooks on job opportunities.

The President of NSSLHA, William Hammers, says that the program not only provides information on communication disorders, but it also offers "information about conferences that are going around nationwide and also statewide." The program also brings awareness to the community about certain causes. For instance, for the past two years, members of the program have had the Autism Walk. The members also "celebrate each other's accomplishments," continues William Hammers, "so we raise money…for those people that graduate. We provide them with a graduation dinner, so they and their families are able to celebrate with their fellow classmates." Recognitions are also provided in the graduation dinner for having been part of the program.

Members of NSSLHA also do community service. They help the community by volunteering at different places. "We usually volunteer at a nursing home" says William Hammers, "we organize activities such as bingos [and] dominos. We also provide gifts for them on holidays like in Christmas." Currently, the program is trying a new method on making students get accustomed around children. They are trying this method because is important for students majoring in Communication Disorders to be able to interact with children for their future jobs. Therefore, they now go to certain places and read to kids.

This program is important because as the president believes, "it brings a sense of belonging and a sense of moral support… [Communication Disorders] is not an easy degree, so [this program] helps people with study groups." This program not only helps the students with their future career, but also the helps them by giving them an opportunity to meet  friends that share their same interest, career wise, and ultimately provides job opportunities.

For more information about NSSLHA, President William Hammers can be contacted through his e-mail, wphammers@dusty.tamiu.edu. Also, members of NSSLHA can be contacted through their Facebook group by typing NSSLHA – TAMIU Chapter in the search engine.

(For more information contact Ana Kristel Gamboa at kristelita_g@dusty.tamiu.edu or Arlene K. Faz at arlene_faz@dusty.tamiu.edu.)