Graduation Speech - Original Writing

As I grew older, I began to realize that students with disabilities have many significant obstacles to overcome. Seeing them get excited about learning things that we take for granted provided me with the desire to become part of their learning. For example, one kindergartner with Down Syndrome struggled daily to learn how to write the first letter of her name. It was such a joy for all of those involved when she finally succeeded. Working with these students furthered my resolve to not only fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a teacher, but I soon realized that special education is my niche. After 13 years of teaching in Glynn County, I still teach with the same fervor and enthusiasm as the first day I formally stepped into a classroom. My principal once said, “Teaching is not a job. It’s a profession.” I wholeheartedly believe in this philosophy. Education was never a back-up plan or alternative for me; being a teacher is who I am. As a special educator, I strive to

Nine years ago, I never could have imagined I’d be writing this essay. I was a senior in high school, and, like the rest of my classmates, I was apprehensive about the future. Unlike my classmates, I felt like I had missed the proverbial “you need to get your life together” message. I watched my classmates apply to colleges, their majors already decided and their future careers mapped out. While I was an above average student, I felt I lacked the decisiveness my classmates seemed to have. I did not feel passionate about a career or even a field of study. I felt defective. This was compounded by the financial strain I knew attending college would have on my family. It seemed wasteful to try to “find my passion” at school while squandering

Having the proper education, understanding how to behave, and knowing about the kids will guarantee that whoever wants to become a successful special needs teacher will. To get the proper education, I need to go to a good college; to understand how to behave, I need to watch the special education teachers at my school; to know stuff about the kid, I need to sit down and talk to them so that I can get to know them better. If I have all of these traits, I believe that I can make an impact on students’

I have known about kids with special needs since a very young age. My cousin has Asperger’s so from the start I knew there were far more conditions than just one that would categorize someone to be a special needs person. But as the older I got the more I understood that their conditions didn’t define them and that just because they were specials needs doesn’t mean that they couldn’t do the same things that you and I do every day. My cousin and the people I have met over the past three years have motivated and helped me make the decision to pursue a teaching degree in special education.

When I first applied for this class at the end of my junior year of high school, my

I put on my bright orange life jacket and stood up. "You want me to go in and push the boat?" I asked my mom. "Yes." She responded. So I climbed out of the boat and into the water. The water was rushing dragging me away, so I grabbed onto the side of the boat and it was then that I realized this was a terribly stupid idea.... It was June fourth of 2016 and the day started out as any early normal day would. My family and I had been invited to go rafting, by my moms best friend Holly. So my mom agreed. She woke us up early so we would be there on time and when we had gotten there we met up with Holly. After that we boarded a bus with our cooler full of water and food. The bus ride was approximately fifteen to thirty minutes. Yes, I was

It was my 5th grade ceremony at Anthony Burns Elementary School, and I was standing in line to get my certificate. The school’s principal called my name to accept my certificate for “AB Honor Roll” and “Excellence in Math.” I was looking into the massive crowd, and my mother, along with my Uncle Chris and Aunt Saundra, were cheering me on with jubilant faces. I remember how intense the moment was, and the overwhelming feeling’s of love i received; I was proud. As I made my way across the stage, the principal called a little boy’s name to receive his certificate. In the audience, his mom and dad stood up and gave him a huge applause; eyes filled with tears of joy. That was the 1st time, in my 10 years of living, I ever wondered about my dad.

Steve and I entered the first grade in the same year but my life zigged and his zagged when the overloaded teacher neglected to teach me to read. I repeated the second grade after my father threatened to sue the school district if they sent me to the third grade without first teaching me to read. The grade shift didn 't make a spit of difference because, although we almost lived next door to each other, we never spent a single day in the same school. I went to public schools that burst at the seams with the baby boom and became a certified loner as I tried to fit into the social fabric of nine schools in twelve years. Steve 's school experience was very different. He went to an Adventist school for twelve years with the same kids, all of

If I had a phrase that I based my life off of, it would probably be "I 'll burn that bridge when I get to it." Instead of going to the library and getting a start on my résumé, I decided to stay home and continue to do absolutely nothing.

It had been a long hot summer, and I was very excited for school to begin, I even found a new backpack on the internet that I wanted to buy, although this never would happen, I was still happy that the summer was almost over. I couldn 't wait.

The day had started out so perfectly, the sun was out, the air was warm and excitement filled the air. Students were all so ready to find their place, to join the club that would change part of what their school year would be like. Some would join the same as before, and some would be bold and try for something new. Alena stood with the other cheerleaders, having arrived early to set up their booth and begin drawing attention be sounding off with some of their new cheers.

I was always particularly early getting to class, but today I was running a little late. I shifted my backpack 's weight nervously from shoulder to shoulder as I hurriedly made my way down the fifth grade hallway. I skipped into the class room with just enough time to take my seat as the teacher began to take roll. The teacher managed to get the room quiet enough to tell us that we were expecting a guest speaker that morning. "Perfect timing! Here he is now." As she finished telling us his name he reached the doorway and knocked rhythmically on its frame. He waddled up to the front of the room and introduced himself with the biggest smile on his face. "Hey guys I 'm Mr. Womack!" He was a short fat man with patches of thin brown hair lining the sides of his head. "I am the band director at the middle school, and I am here to talk to you guys about joining band!" I perked up from my typical 'slid down in the bottom of my seat ' posture so I could pay more attention to what he had to say. "Has anyone ever had a family member play a musical instrument?" He looked around the room filled with wide eyed fifth graders squirming in their seats half listening. I wanted to pipe up from my small blue desk to say I have, but I was so painfully shy it made that action almost impossible to preform. After what seemed like forever he dismissed his question and moved onto the next. "Would anyone be interested in playing an instrument in the middle school band?" Almost instantly every hand in

It was an ordinary day when Taylor woke up for school. She went into her normal morning routine; wake up at 7:25 and be in the shower by 7:35 and out of the shower by 7:45. Afterwards she would get dressed, grab some breakfast and be out the door by 7:52 so she could make it to school by 7:57. Once she was at the school, she kept to herself. She was a shy girl, didn’t like to speak in class, just really liked to read. That’s how she spent most of her time when she wasn’t in class or eating.

My mom drops me off in front of the large store, “good luck Sarah you will do great! See you at 6” she says as I quickly jump out of the car. I walk up the automatic door with butterflies in my stomach while repeating to myself, “don 't worry you 'll be fine” over and over again in hopes if I say it enough it 'll become true. The automatic doors open with one swift motion I then walk towards a second set of automatic door. When these doors open I am greeted with a gust of nice cold air and the constant sound of beep beep, shopping carts wheeling around, the sound of cash registers opening, receipts printing off, and bustling people. I freeze trying to figure out where to go in this large store but before I can start to panic I am greeted by a small masculine looking women in her mid 20s with an extremely laid back attitude. “Here” she says as she tosses me a navy blue polyester smock with the words “Crosby’s Marketplace” embroidered on the pocket and a cross tie.

Hurry ‘’wake up’’ my mom said with excited 4:00 of the morning then I said yawning why then she said we are going to St. Louis! So then I was jumped out of bed and screamed and might of have woken up my baby brother. So then my mom was SHHHHHHHHHHH, and I was like…... whoops! Then I asked are my cousin’s awake and she said what do you mean then I said that you said that they were going to come to if we were going so then she called them and said yes I was so happy I yelled again and now my little sister was asking what is wrong and my little brother was crying and I said whoops again! I could not wait for the big trip! We left at 5:30 we drove back and when we were going for 4 hours when we were going there my little sister fell asleep