I remember my mom asking me if becoming a special education teacher is really what I want to do in life. She said it with a little doubt in her words but hope in her eyes. I remember processing the question, taking a little pause to comprehend what my life would be. And then finally I responded. I said yes; the yes coming from the bottom of my heart, with my mind telling me to think again.
I was given the wonderful opportunity to be a one-on-one aid for a secondary special education school. What better way to test out my future career than actually doing it? The students here learn daily life and job skills they will use once they graduate. I was assigned a girl named Vivian, who is pictured above. She is a 16-year-old teen diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Cornelia de Lange syndrome is characterized by slow growth before and after birth leading to short stature, intellectual disability that is usually moderate to severe, and abnormalities of bones in the arms, hands and fingers. It is a rare disease, every one in 10,000 births, and Vivian is a twin. From the outside world, her best days were perceived as her worst.
At some points in our friendship, it would sometimes feel as if we were sisters. The yelling, fighting, sarcastic remarks and lastly, my favorite, the spitefulness. When she would have her episodes, she was the big, bad, older sister who did not care about anything in the world. Throwing stuff across the room at me or purposely ignoring me because she didn't want to go to gym class. Oh Vivian, how you kept me feeling so young but yet feeling like I was growing grey hair. Yes, she doesn't walk or talk like the rest of us, but she will always have a special place in my heart. Everyday, I wish I could go back and thank her one last time for teaching me how to live.
She taught me to not be afraid to show your true self to the world.
She taught me how people can bottle up emotions, and all they need is a friend or outlet to make it better.
She taught me how it is worth gold to smile and be happy, because it can make someone else even happier.
She taught me how she wants to be let free from always feeling trapped inside.
She taught me how it is OK to take a day off from stress because everyone needs their alone time.
She taught me that in order to make it, you gotta fake it!
She taught me how to look at others and understand how their lives can be more difficult than my own.
She taught me how someone else's emotions can personally affect your own, in every way possible.
Thank you, Vivian, for showing me the love I have for this career. Thank you for showing me this is absolutely what I want to do for the rest of my life.
