Jaime Chadek
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, CO USA
"Life can take you to all kinds of different places if you let it."
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Jaime's work combines: Medicine, Education, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Graduate Degree
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
University of Northern Colorado
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I had an interest in education during undergrad, but because my whole family were teachers, I wanted to do something different.
2.
I worked at a national advertising agency for about three years, and I enjoyed it, but I realized that all of my free time was spent working with kids with disabilities.
3.
I started doing some volunteering and exploring my options by setting up clinical observations of speech language pathologists and physical therapists.
4.
I landed at Firefly Autism in Colorado as a behaviorist. I fell in love working with children on the autistic spectrum.
5.
I decided that the biggest piece that they’re missing is their ability to communicate.
6.
I applied for graduate school, but I didn’t get in. After I decided to try again, I got into the University of Northern Colorado.
7.
I graduated with my master's degree at 35 years old, and because of my previous networking, I landed my dream job at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You're work as a behavioralist doesn't matter. You got your undergraduate degree too long ago, you can't get into a master's program.
How I responded:
My first attempt to get into graduate school was unsuccessful. I called the programs I applied to and asked for feedback. They told me I was very removed from my undergrad and that my degree had nothing to do with what I had accomplished. They discredited my eight years as a behaviorist. I believed in my skill set, I had the passion to do it, and I loved kids. I put the noise aside, because I knew it was ridiculous and irrational. I was determined to find the person who was willing to help me.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When I decided to leave advertising in order to pursue working with kids with disabilities, I knew it was the right thing, but it wasn't easy. Grad school was the biggest hurdle that I'm most proud to have hopped over. I feel really lucky.