My Eight Best Buddies

            I did not know what to expect as I stepped into the classroom that day.  Would I be able to relate to them?  Would I be able to help them?  Would they accept me as the new person in their classroom?  I was so nervous start my service learning assignment this semester, not because I had never done it before, not because I did not know what to do, but because I did not know what to expect.  I have never worked with students who have special needs, so this was going to be something completely new to me.  As I walked into the classroom eight little faces turned around to look at who had just ventured into their classroom.  As I smiled back, eight little faces quickly turned back to their teacher.  I sat in the desk at the back of the class and waited for the teacher to introduce me.  As I waited I noticed that one by one each student turned around once again to look at me, but this time they smiled before they turned back around.  When the class was done with working on their cursive warm-up, the teacher asked me to come to the front of the class.  She introduced me as Miss Jeni and told them I was a college student who wanted to be a teacher.  Within seconds of my introduction little hands started flying in the air.  Are you married?  What is college like?  What is your favorite thing to do?  Do you like shopping?  Do you have a boyfriend, what is his name?  Question after question, I realized that I had nothing to fear, these wonderful students were children, and even though they had disabilities they were no different then any other students I had worked with in the past.  I had no idea standing in front of that class that this would be an amazing and life changing experience.

            During my time at Highland High School in my service learning classroom I was so involved with the classroom and students that at times I felt like I was already a teacher and I was in my own classroom!  I was able to help the students individually, in small groups, and even teach lessons to the whole class.  From the first activity to last activity that I taught the kids I realized that I could easily teach students with Special Needs.  I was able to see a wide variety of school settings for students with special needs.  Each of those settings I realized I would love to be involved in.  While I saw many school settings for the students I also was able to attend a “Best Buddies” dance with them.  The dance was a really great experience because I got to see all the kids in a setting that made them feel so “normal” and happy.  The students asked me to take a picture with them, because as one of the girls said, “You are our favorite new best buddy and we don’t want to forget you Miss Jeni.”  I was so touched that I now had eight best buddies of my own!

            While I have so many amazing stories about my time at Highland High, one event during my time there sticks out in my mind more then any other.  I was speaking with a little girl and she said she loved it when I came into the classroom because she could talk.  I asked her what she meant by that and her reply made me sad but at the same time gave me hope for when I was a teacher.  She said she was not allowed to talk at home because she always made her brother and mom mad.  She said she does not talk at home because she does not want them to hate her.  I realized right there that if I do teach special education I can be a positive support in a student’s life.  I may not be able to teach them skills that I can teach students who are not in special education, but if I can be a positive support for them for 8 hours a day that is rewarding enough for me.  I wish everyone could spend just a day with these students to realize how amazing they are and why it is so important to be tolerant towards people with special needs.

            Looking back on my service learning I realize, like F.D.R. once said, “that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  The fear I felt before I started the assignment has vanished and in its place was a new passion, an excitement of wanting to teach students who have special needs.  This project helped me to conquer my fear and anxiety, and without it I would have never have know I have a calling to Special Education!  Each day I spent in that classroom with my amazing new eight best buddies the passion grew.  I have now decided and started the process of becoming dual certified in Secondary Education Social Sciences and Special Education.  My goal in becoming a teacher has always been to make a difference in the life of children.  I feel privileged to know now that I can and will make a difference in a wide variety of students life including students who have special needs.