I began going to speech therapy when I was a toddler, and continued up until I was about ten years old. I spent many hours with my speech pathologist, holding my tongue up in uncomfortable positions, blowing bubbles, and holding Cheerios up to the roof of my mouth with my tongue.

I actually enjoyed going to my speech classes. I looked forward to all the other students mumbling things like “you’re so lucky” when I got to skip out on a math lesson because I had to go to speech. Forty-five minutes, two or three times a week; not a big deal. Yeah, a few mean kids would sometimes make fun of the way I spoke, but who cares? I got to miss class time AND got to attend a special ice cream party at the end of each school year. (Speech kids only: how you like me now, meanies?!)

My speech improved greatly over the years and I finally was able to “graduate” from speech therapy! My speech pathologist told me how great I had done, but that I will most likely always have a little lisp. This didn’t bother my 10-year-old self at all! Who cares if a little girl has a lisp, right?

However, when I started to get older, my lisp began to bother me more and more.

I remember in eighth and ninth grade I would search YouTube for videos on how to get rid of a lisp. I would sit there for hours, practicing the movements with my tongue over and over again. Until finally I asked myself “why does it even matter?”

I am perfectly fine with the fact that I have a lisp. It’s a part of me; it makes me unique. I consider my lisp to be just another one of my many quirks and imperfections. However, this does not mean that I do not get frustrated with myself and other people when it comes to my lisp.

My number-one insecurity regarding my lisp is that it makes me sound childish and unprofessional.

I mean, who wants to listen to a woman give a presentation when she can’t even pronounce half of the words correctly?

Am I interviewing a 20-year-old over the phone, or a seven-year-old?

I’m supposed to hire her even though she can’t even pronounce her last name correctly?

These are the things that go through my head when I am giving a presentation in one of my classes or applying for a job; it tends to freak me out sometimes.

I have been told many times that my lisp is “cute.” While I totally agree (I’m freaking adorable), sometimes I don’t want to be “cute,” I want to be taken seriously. I feel as if my lisp is just another factor against me when it comes to being seen as an adult.

Another thing I dislike about having a lisp is not being understood. I don’t mean this in a melodramatic “NO ONE GETS ME!” emotional kind of way, I mean this in a, “What did she just say?,” kind of way. I believe my close friends and family have come to know the way I speak, so being misunderstood is not really an issue when I’m with them. My insecurity arises when it comes to speaking to people I do not know all that well, or do not speak to often. It can sometimes come down to me repeating myself three or four times, which can be embarrassing for the both of us.

“Oh my God, can you say 'Sally sells seashells by the seashore?!'”

No. Can you go eff off?

"Are you wearing a retainer?"

No, would it make you more comfortable if I was?

"Why do you talk like that?"

I don't know. Why do you look like that?

Besides it being cute, these are the most common comments I get regarding my lisp. I don't actually say these answers, but I definitely would like to sometimes.

I hate when people ask me to say words that are filled with the letter S. I know no harm is meant, but it makes me feel like I am being made fun of for something I have no control over. I do not speak with a lisp to amuse people; it’s just the way I talk. So, do not purposely make fun of it or ask me to say things that I obviously have trouble saying; it’s annoying and rude.

I have accepted the fact that I will never be a rapper, an actress, or be involved in voice-over narration (Shout-out to Morgan Freeman.)

I think my lisp is cute and quirky, but it can still be annoying and can still sometimes cause me to feel insecure.

So, next time you meet someone with any kind of speech impediment, whether it be minor or severe, always remember to have patience when speaking to them, because not being able to have people understand you can be very uncomfortable, frustrating, and sometimes embarrassing.