A few years ago while studying to be an actor and musician, Evan paid the bills by facilitating programs for young adults with special needs. In this phase of his life, he was exploring certain questions around communication and connection, which influenced his decision to become a speech language pathologist — a career that offers the opportunity to dive deeper into the nuances of human expression.
Evan posits that we can infer certain things about people by the way they speak. A person’s voice, for instance, can betray personality characteristics and emotional states. One only needs to think of one's most extroverted or introverted friends. What patterns emerge?
"At the end of the day, the fundamental need is the same,” Evan says about folks that seek vocal assistance. “It’s the need for a voice that can fully reflect who a person hopes to be."
Perhaps it’s helpful to note that voices aren’t concrete entitles; they can change. The hoarse kindergarten teacher, the man who was told he can’t sing, the transgender woman who wishes her voice was more feminine — these are all examples of people he has worked with.
"We imbue our voices with the weight and significance of our personhood,” he states, "But we aren’t restricted to the current voice we have."