When Aleisha Allen appeared on the big screen in the movie "Are We There Yet," with Ice Cube and Nia Long, she was only an adorable fourteen-year-old girl. In the film, they gave Ice Cube’s character, Nick Pearsons a run for his money, which resulted in various hilarious moments. The film’s success led to the release of the 2007 sequel “Are We Done Yet?” adding to the franchise’s success. Even before that, the young actress was seen everywhere in the hit movie, "School of Rock" with Jack Black when she was only 12. But she's been acting years before that starting her career at age four.
Now, fast-forward years later, Allen is a beautiful 31-year-old woman with more than just acting under her belt; she's a speech pathologist.
That's right, the young girl who played the boisterous and protective daughter of Nia Long in "Are We There Yet" is a Pace University and Columbia University alum. And since the pandemic, she's been working in her new career while changing lives.
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"When I decided to study Communication Science & Disorders as a Medical Speech-Language Pathologist, I saw the parallels between performance and providing therapy—and pretty much geeked out," Allen shares in an interview with The Shade Room.
What does a Speech Pathologist Do?
Speech-language pathologists, also called SLPs, are experts in communication.
SLPs work with people of all ages, from babies to adults. SLPs treat many types of communication and swallowing problems. These include problems with:
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- Speech sounds — how to say sounds and put sounds together into words.
- Language — Helping others understand what they hear or read. In adults, this problem may be called aphasia.
- Literacy — People with speech and language disorders may also have trouble reading, spelling, and writing.
- Social communication - This is also called pragmatics.
- Voice — how the voices sound
- Fluency — also called stuttering, is how well speech flows.
- Cognitive-communication — how well our minds work. Problems may involve memory, attention, problem-solving, organization, and other thinking skills.
Health Care Hits Home
For Allen, taking care of someone's health, not just speech, is important for her. And this time last year wshe was put to the test when her mother got diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of the pandemic.
READ: Your Guide to Follow-Up Care For Triple Negative Breast Cancer
"In addition to all that’s been going on this year, in January, my mom was diagnosed with Stage I, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (which happens to be one of the most aggressive kinds)," explains Allen. "The journey began last October, when......suspicion arose from a routine mammogram. She never developed a palpable lump because of the location the cancer was found— in fact, she probably wouldn’t have even felt one until the stage was more severe.
However, the advantage here, is that my mom is keenly in tune with her body and diligent about her health.
READ: Get Rid of Your Breast Cancer Side Effects Once and For All
Early detection saved her life.
Because it was caught at Stage I, it allowed for early treatment and improved her prognosis."
"Since the diagnosis, we’ve gained a wealth of knowledge that no one ever really hopes to have to know, but is grateful that the information it is available if/when it applies. There’ve been some pretty miserable days witnessing all my mom has had to endure (surgeries, aggressive treatment, etc). But, she’s done so with the utmost style & grace, and is now, one year from the start, done with treatment; successfully on the road to recovery. She’s the champ!"
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Will there be a 'Are We There Yet 3'?
When asked if there will be a new installment in the "Are We There Yet?" series, Allen shared her openess for the project.
"I’m not opposed to it!" she stated. "I’m down for preserving “classics”, but, listen, after the year we’ve had so far, the classics have been a comfort. I hope to start using the experience I’ve gained during my hiatus, for different roles, soon. (I miss it!)"
"Here’s to feeling good, even if just for this moment, and to holding on to the promise of a testimony; that at some point, we’ll all be feeling even better. Love, Aleisha."
We love you back Aleisha.
Keep shining.
