Synthesis Post- What Special Education is to me

Growing up my future profession ranged from me becoming a doctor, dentist, interior designer, or a veterinarian, but little did I know that certain life experiences would lead me to the major of Special Education. Two influential factors that were embedded into my life are my cousin, Sarah, who has special needs and my experience in my high school’s Special Education classroom. My now 11-year-old cousin, Sarah, is nonverbal and can only communicate through some signs and emotions. Words are scarce in her vocabulary, but seeing her grow up these past 11 years, I feel like she is just like any other 11-year-old. She always wears a great big smile on her face and plays with her toys like they are the most interesting things. I first knew I was attracted to the profession of being a Special Education teacher when I was about 16 years old. As a junior in high school I quickly latched onto the want to pursue this profession. Sarah was just so fascinating to me. I want to learn more about why she is the way she is and why she cannot develop the same way other children her age do. With these questions lingering in my head I decided to volunteer my time senior year of high school to help out in my school’s Special Education classroom. I learned many things and gained better insight into the daily struggles that each student goes through on a daily basis. As able-bodied humans, we take walking, talking, and simply eating for granted. The complexity of certain diseases and mental retardations are so severe that they do cause these imperfections. Each day I would always look forward to coming in and helping out, and I think that is when I knew that I was doing what I loved.

With this newfound love also came frustration. Most people do not give special needs students enough credit for all they do. I believe that Special Education students are the hardest working students in their school for the simple reason that they have more to overcome in a lesson than any other student and they still manage to complete their work. One misconception that is thought of in a Special Education classroom is that the students do not work on actual subjects and that they just come to school to have a place to hang out and rehab their bodies. But what these people don’t know is that these students work harder than any other student in their school. While the topics they are covering may be minor and not very difficult for regular education students, learning this basic material is going to heighten their abilities greatly. Special Education students work through pain, physical ailments, and emotional upheavals every day and they do not complain. They simply work through these struggles and complete each assignment. Able-bodied people take their everyday routines for granted like eating or simply saying “I love you”. Life is not as simple for everyone as some may think and a sense of compassion needs to be shown.

My passion for Special Education can probably be seen quite clearly through these words above. I feel that the major and profession of Special Education is something that matters because it makes me think of someone or something other than yourself and it makes me comforted when I can speak for a child who cannot speak for themselves. I take great pride in being a big supporter for those who society sees as different and weaker than students in regular education. I love being that advocate that says, “These students can do anything any other student can do. Maybe it won’t be done as quickly or as efficiently, but it will get done because they have a driving force inside of them that will never give up.”