From Little Lukes Preschool to Nazareth College: Nick’s Journey
Professional Baseball Player to Movie Director to Professional
Speech Therapist
It's 2002, a determined 3-year-old begins preschool
classes in the Orange Octopus room at Oswego Little Lukes. “When I was in
preschool, I wanted to be a baseball player or a movie director when I grew up.
I was a very ambitious 3-year-old!”
Nick is now in his early 20’s, on track to graduate from Nazareth
College of Rochester in May of 2021. “Nick was definitely a memorable child! He
was very friendly and had a big imagination,” reflects Darci Powers, then
Little Lukes Oswego Center Director, “he was always very school ready!”
Although Nick has no longer decided to pursue a career as a
baseball player or a movie director, his goals and aspirations are just as ambitious;
a career in Speech Language Pathology. “I will be graduating Nazareth in May
2021 with my undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and I
will begin my graduate work in the Fall 2021; hopefully at Nazareth as well.”
A Career in Helping
“I always wanted a career in helping people and as an SLP I
believe that’s the best way I can do just that.”
The once rambunctious 3-year-old reflects over life
experiences that led him to Speech Pathology. “Attending Little Lukes was my
first experience with children of varying abilities and gave me a foundation of
wanting to help others.” Little Lukes is an inclusion preschool, giving all
children of varying learning abilities, an equal opportunity of being educated
together in the same classrooms.
“Little Lukes inspired me,” says Nick, “by introducing me to
the ideals of what a helper is, and [helping] always gave me a good feeling.”
Goals as a Speech Language Pathology Therapist
“As an SLP, I hope I can help as many clients as possible…In
five years after I graduate, I hope to be working as an SLP in either a
clinical setting or a school setting.”
A Rift in Nick’s Journey
It may seem like Nick’s path was laid out for him, but it
wasn’t without its ups and downs. “Originally, I came into Nazareth College as
an Occupational Therapy major, but as the year progressed, I found myself
enjoying the courses less.” Back to the drawing board it was. “I eventually
changed my major to Speech Language Pathology. I always wanted a career in helping
people and as an SLP I believe that’s the best way I can do just that.”
Lifelong Passion Meets Newfound Passion
Even though Nick has decided not to become a baseball
player, he has still found a way to incorporate his love of sports in his
college career. “For the past two years, I’ve been working for the men’s
basketball team at Nazareth as a student assistant while I continue my studies
and it has been a very fun and rewarding experience.” Enjoying his new lifelong
passion alongside his newfound passion, Nick is confident he is headed in the
right direction. “I love what I am doing at Nazareth and next semester I will
be working in our on-property clinic. I will have my own client for the semester,
and I am very much looking forward to that! Coming to Nazareth was one of the
best decisions I’ve ever made.”
The Right Path
Nick has progressed far from that 3-year-old attending
inclusion preschool in the Little Lukes Orange Octopus room, but his values
have not changed. “Attending Little Lukes… gave me a foundation of wanting to
help others.” And helping is exactly what he’ll do.
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Little Lukes is a leading Syracuse and Oswego County
education provider with five inclusion preschool locations. The early education
program includes credentialed and caring staff that specializes in
comprehensive infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten development. Additional
services include pediatric speech therapy, pediatric physical therapy and
pediatric occupational therapy. Preschool locations include Dewitt (East
Syracuse), Baldwinsville (Radisson), Oswego, Fulton, and Pulaski.
For information about Little Lukes, please contact us at
https://www.littlelukes.com/contact.html