I (like many other people) have struggled with trying to figure out what they’ve wanted to do with their lives. Everyone around me would always push for me to be a doctor or a lawyer of some sorts, but I never felt like I could do those to the best of my ability and be the happiest. I felt like I didn’t have that “backbone” to pursue those hard careers. I was on the more softer, more emotional side. I self-identify with being a Hufflepuff on Pottermore because of how much compassion I have towards helping people in those emotional ways. Not to mention, being a police officer or a scientist didn’t have that same cozy feeling to me the way other jobs sounded. I tried so hard to think about careers that had that same exact hands-on warmness that I imagined myself doing in my future.
Then I watched some TV shows and that’s when it finally hit me! I could become a nurse; I was helpful and compassionate and wanted to help people hands-on and I wouldn’t have to go to school for so long like doctors have to. I thought it was the best decision, except that I forgot that I was afraid of needles and seeing blood. Immediately my mood soured a bit as I was still stuck in the same position before.
College deadlines were coming closer and closer, yet I was still stuck with what type of school I should apply to. I didn’t want to apply for one school, totally change my mind, and then have to transfer to a totally new college. Then, during my senior year in high school, my cheer coach and dear friend was a Special Education teacher at my high school and I decided to be a student aide for her classroom. It turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made! I ended up becoming fast friends with the kids and loved the environment in that classroom.
It was only a class of about 8-9 people, including the teacher and I, but I became close with all the people in there and I learned about a different way of teaching methods, ways that were very different from the way I was taught. By the time that I realized I had wanted to do pursue a career in Special Education, I had already applied to various nursing schools and small liberal arts colleges. Then, I found out I got accepted into the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, College of Liberal Arts. I was so excited until I saw that the Special Education major was in a totally different college here at the U.
This semester I started taking an Educational Psychology class titled "Differences and Disabilities" with an amazing professor and 15 other people who all had an interest in becoming a special education teacher. As the semester progressed forward, I began doing practicum teaching at an elementary school where I also got to work with kids who were receiving special education services.
I didn’t know much about working with children and learning about how much thought and effort went into making sure that the students had the ability to learn as much as they wanted, regardless of other factors. There was something so powerful about working with students and helping them maximize their knowledge and minds that I found fascinating. So, I considered if I should become a special education teacher. Throughout the class, we were learning about the history of Special Education services and how it came to be, and I started becoming passionate for justice. Upon hearing this, I knew it wasn’t fair and I wanted to help be a part of a change.
All of the people of whom I have met that are either a part of the Special Education teams in schools, hospitals, or other settings, have all the same compassion that I have in regards to wanting to teach and make a difference in a student's life. We have all made friends with people with disabilities who show us that they deserve the right to learn, just like their able-bodied peers, but that sometimes isn't happening. I fell in love with the environment, the people, the parents, the students, and the teachers. I have never had so much passion for anything until I found my calling in majoring in Special Education. I don’t know if what I’ll do with my degree is teaching or if I'm destined for a somewhat different route, but I can tell you that I have never been more excited until now.
