Wow, It has been awhile since I made a blog entry. It has been kinda chilly today and I was just in the mood to blog so here I am blogging.
Since my last "update" so many things have happened! Well the CWF Internship didn't work out, but only because God had other plans. Which is much easier to say now then it was back in February. I have since then been hired as a CDC Severe Teaching Assistant for the school system. This is the journey of my special journey.
At the end of 2011 I applied to be a substitute teacher, while working as a server. I was 18 years old and with my past 4-H experience I knew it would be a good fit. In January of 2012 subbing began picking up and quickly I became a sub full time. While working one day in a CDC class, a class for special need children, I was asked to stay a few minutes after class to talk to the Principle. All I remember thinking was I'm in trouble. I did something too stern and am in trouble. I was very nervous!
A few minutes before school let out I stepped out in the hall with the CDC teacher I had been working with. She introduced me to a very tall, skinny, beautiful lady with pretty curly blond hair. I'll call her Mrs. Awesome for this post. Mrs.CDC told me who Mrs. Awesome was then disappeared. Mrs. Awesome explained to me that she was a special education teacher for children who struggle behaviorally in a Gen Ed setting because of circumstance that may or may not be out of their control. She told me that this class was these students last chance of being in a regular school setting before getting sent to the alternative school.
Mrs. Awesome then told me that there was an opening in her class for an assistant, and I was being considered for an offer for the position. She continued to talk but honestly, I don't remember nearly anything after that. I did ask how? You see I had only worked in that particular school four days, why would any one offer me a job like that? I was told that Dr. Super, the principle had seen me around and liked how I worked. That was all I was told. After that I continued to sub in that school almost every day. The next week was a roller coaster ride! It was full of questions! I had a interview with the principle and vice principle.
I had willingness to learn, hands on knowledge, and determination. However, two things seemed to hang over my head. One was my age. I was at the time only 18 making me the youngest possible future employee at the time I didn't realize this yet. The second was brought to my attention a week after the interview. I began subbing in Mrs. Awesome's class, learning how it did/didn't function and trying to build repore with the kids. Mrs. Awesome had a talk with me and shared that after my interviewing me that the administrators were not sure if they wanted to completely offer me the job yet. They were concerned that I had grown up too sheltered to mentally withstand the stress of the class. After talking to Mrs. Awesome I did get the job and started working as a full time classified staff employee on February ninth two thousand and twelve.
I was 18 years old and was currently the youngest employee at the elementary school working in the most difficult class. On top of working at the school I still had a serving job as well and was helping train new employees.
That semester I learned so much! I was blessed to work with an awesome team! They helped teach me how to build repore with students, and how to effectively interact with these special students. I learned the importance of stern structure in the classroom setting, as well as the benefits of zoning. I also learned how to recognize the signs of a melt down and how to deescalate students with coping skills.
I worked with one student mainly one on one that had both Autism and behavior learning problems. We reached quite a few goals together. Even though he was the student, he often became the teacher! There were good days and there were horrible days! I would have changed that experience for anything.
This year I have moved to the CDC class next door. It is a class designed mainly for teaching life skills to students that have physical/mental needs. We have been blessed with a big class full of very bright students.
I am excited to see what God has and is doing in my life. I was so disappointed when I wasn't able to attend college right away. Looking back, I realize I would never be where I am now if I had gone to college or gotten accepted to the CWF internship. I thank God for His plans the He has made and can't wait to see what He brings next! As for now He is just doing a great job of helping me learn patience. :)
