Umang Desai is one of the young people featured in the DVD Stuttering: For Kids, By Kids. Since that DVD was filmed in 2004, Umang has not only inspired many young people, but has crossed many bridges himself to become an attorney. We thought this would be a good time to interview him about stuttering, his success, and the advice he has for others.
 
Umang: I think it is important to stay positive and be willing to take chances. You are going to have good days and bad days, easy speaking situations and really hard speaking situations. On the good days, try to reflect on what is working and what you can do to replicate this success in the future. On the tough days, don't let yourself get too worked up. One moment or one day is not going to define your success, so keep the big picture in perspective and keep pushing forward.
 
Question: We understand that you've completed law school, what advice do you have?
Umang: No matter what career path you choose, seek out mentors within and outside of the career who are available to work through problems and brainstorm decisions with you. Also, never let anybody, no matter how powerful or important they seem, tell you that you cannot do something. There are so many methods and resources for achieving your goals, always think outside the box and stay confident in your abilities to do anything.  
 
Question: What is the toughest time you have had?
Umang: One experience that sticks out in my mind was during my freshman year of college.  My first semester, I was enrolled in a public speaking course where the professor was unwilling to give me additional time to complete my graded speeches. This meant staying in the course would have meant I probably would have failed.  I had a tough time making the decision to drop the course. Until that point, I was so focused on never quitting or letting my speech dictate what I could do.  I felt that I was being forced out of the class because I could not speak as quickly as my classmates.  While I was devastated at the time, this situation was actually a blessing in disguise as it gave me time to get acclimated to college and continue working on my speech under more relaxed conditions.  I took the class my junior year, was able to complete it successfully, and my professor the second time around ended up becoming one of my mentors as I graduated and went on to law school.    
 
Question: Where did you go to law school and where are you currently located?
Umang: I attended the Loyola University Chicago School of Law and am currently working in the Chicagoland area.   
 
Question: Why did you decide to become an attorney?
Umang: Being an attorney was a dream I had from a young age.  Initially I pictured myself as one of those lawyers on TV, coming up with clever lines and presenting my case to the jury.  As I grew older, I realized that practicing law would allow me to help people, continually challenge me, and allow me to grow as a professional and a person.  I also believed that being in that career would force me to become a better communicator and work more diligently on my speech. 
 
Question: Did you take courses in public speaking? Did that help your stuttering?
Umang: I did take courses in public speaking and found that it helped my speech and confidence considerably, especially when I had patient and understanding professors. These courses can be important for a stutterer because they provide a safe forum to work on your speech outside of therapy or your home.  I also think these courses are a powerful way to build confidence and become more comfortable speaking to many people in small and large group settings.
 
Question: Is stuttering still a concern at all for you?
Umang: Stuttering is certainly a concern for me. I am still working to build and sustain my confidence in a number of situations.  I also find myself fearing or wanting to avoid certain speaking situations.  However, I try to stay active and put myself in those feared situations so that I am not hiding and letting those fears control what I am able to do.  I continue going to therapy and have joined support groups so that I have multiple situations where I can work on my speech and become a better communicator.
 
Question: Anything you would like to add?
Umang: I know it is easier said than done, but I have heard from many stutterers that they have an easier time with their speech when they are not fearing it.  Try not to let it control what you do or become discouraged with it.  Focus your speaking situations on the content rather than your stuttering.  Also, try to find a group or situation where you can interact with other stutterers.  For me, meeting other stutterers has changed my perspective on stuttering and working with these individuals in a group setting has taught me so much about my own speech that I would not have figured out anywhere else.
 
If you would like to contact Umang, you can e-mail us at info@stutteringhelp.org and we will make sure he gets your message.