Personal Narrative: Pursuing The Learning-Disabled

In hindsight, I have come a long way since my first day of band. There have been many friends, many failures, many victories, and many beautiful moments in the wake of my fateful decision in sixth grade. I can say without a doubt that being in band has strengthened my integrity and provided me with memories that I will cherish throughout the remainder of my

Band has impacted my life in many ways, from allowing me to compete, to becoming a leader, or requiring me to manage my class and practice, times it has made me a better person. These impacts have occurred through many of my activities, but with band it is different. Partially because band allows you to be a team player while also allowing you to be a solo performer. When I first started in band I did not think that I would become so involved. However, as time continued I became more interested in my involvement with band. Leading me to participate in multiple honor bands, solo and ensemble competitions, and become an officer. Because of my current involvement, I have developed many necessary skills for life, such as time management, discipline,

​In the fifth grade, I was introduced to my district's band program. The moment I was shown the instruments and allowed to take one home has changed me over the years. I along with the other students, my peers and friends, experienced the trouble of learning a brand new thing, an instrument. I was given the task of just playing one note and holding it for a certain duration. For the next few days the tasks assigned to me increased in difficulty, as well as how I should structure my schedule around practicing my instrument and school work. Then, from fifth to sixth grade my middle school experience separated the wheat from the chaff. This small transition of just one year showed a willingness or commitment to what I and my peers, my friends

My quality of sound started to sound better and I just knew I was getting closer to my goal. By the end of my eight grade year, my technique had gotten better and I was ready to be a part of the North Salem Wind Ensemble. When I got to high school, I choose band as one of my electives, hoping that I would be placed in Wind Ensemble. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it into Wind Ensemble. From that day forward, I worked harder and practiced like never before. Then, my sophomore year came and I made it into Wind Ensemble and all of my hard work paid off. I knew that if I worked hard I would accomplish my goal. I would go to the local music stores and buy music books so that I could practice, learn, and study new music. I knew that in order for me to make it into Wind Ensemble I would have to practice every chance that I got. This was one of my biggest goals for entering high school and I wasn’t going to give up on my goal no matter how difficult it had gotten. It was a struggle taking my instrument home daily and studying my music outside of my school work but I still managed to do it anyway. I believe that working hard is important because when you work hard in life you accomplish your

Like many freshmen, I arrived at high school totally lost. Middle school had been fun, for sure, but I had never found my niche during those three years. I did not play a sport, I was not part of a tight-knit clique, and, while I had found a high degree of success in school, I was never the academic star of my class. Certainly I had friends and I enjoyed school, but no pursuit of passion had found me yet. Band was my saving grace—I truly believe that, if I had not joined band in the fifth grade, it would have taken me far longer to find my way in life. Even now, I am still feeling the walls for a light that will show me my path, but music and academics have guided me this far.

The water has always been a safe haven for me, regardless if it was the ocean or a simple pool. It calmed me and put life into perspective. Growing up I had a minor learning disability that made reading and writing a major obstacle. No one really understood why it didn’t click for me. I was taking classes before school and having tutors in the summer, but it wasn’t enough. After a few years, I was molded to be the athlete of the family and as long as I tried with school, the grades weren’t a huge priority. I caught onto this and was extremely dissatisfied. I wanted to have the same standards as my brother and not just be something because it was a fall back. This label got to me and so I found comfort in a creature that I thought shared a false,

I called the constituent, he stated needs a house. He stated is currently in wheelchair. I asked where is he currently living, he said with her ex-wife.

Imagine falling of a chair. Not that bad right? Now, imagine falling of a chair in front of the whole cafeteria. Funny? Yes. Painful? Definitely. So embarrassing that you hid in your teacher’s classroom for the remaining time of the school day? Sounds like me! After many years of mental preparation, physiological therapy, and complete avoidance of using chairs in front of others, I was finally able to overcome my tragedy. Like every other day, I ardently waited for lunch time to arrive. As soon as the bell rang, I ran to the cafeteria. I sat, I ate, and just when I was about to throw my food away…

Since I was a young child, I have consistently dreamed of making a difference in my overall society and specializing in something where I am able to change the lives of others. During my grade school years, I was diagnosed as a 504 IEP student. This so called “disability” has formed me into the person I am today. I was able to look at the world differently, knowing that everyone and everything is not always perfect, and by going the extra mile while completing a task, will always get you somewhere. Dealing with my disability wasn’t always easy for me, I would often become more stressed than a typical student. Therefore I decided to participate in a daily yoga class to relieve stress and find comfort within. Although I eventually acquired skills

If everyone stood up to be a voice for those who are silenced, like sunlight burning through darkness, could those who are lame begin to take a stand? Could the blind begin see the change within this world? Could the deaf suddenly hear victory ringing around them? Prior to the 1970’s, few to no disabled students were educated in public schools because their needs that required extensive care were unable to be addressed by school faculty. In 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was passed. This act requires public schools to allow students the right to education, regardless of their disability. Special Education provides access to education to children with intellectual and physical disabilities. Services are divided into categories based on the disabilities of the child.. These include: Traumatic Brain Injury,multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, speech impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment, intellectual impairment, and developmental. delays. After children are eligible for services, an Individualized Education Plan, mandated by the IDEA, is established. Within this plan , there are objectives and goals of which the parents and Special Education teachers decide where the child is weak and what they need help accomplishing. Physical therapists, Occupational therapists,and Adapted Physical Education teachers provide total assistance to

In ninth grade, I was a math nerd, water polo jock, and robotics geek at the same time. As a result, I started looking down upon those who were not as well-rounded as I was. I maintained this superior frame of mind even after I moved to a more competitive school in 10th grade. Although I lost my standing as a water polo jock, I replaced that activity with concert band. Despite playing in the fourth band the first year, I felt that I would move up a band or two by the next audition, eventually reaching the top of the band hierarchy. But three months after my

I believe that my learning disability of dyslexia,that caused me some difficulty in grade school,has shown me an appreciation for discipline.AT times learning was hard for me,and at times I was not motivated.Many times my difficulties also caused me to work harder to overcome,the disability,to master a subject.I found this true in math,where I had a very hard time in the fourth grade learning long division,and advanced multiplication.Sometimes my overcompensating effort caused me to excel.I believe that my experiences as an adult,and my Christian faith has matured me and helped me in these learning areas,and I see the point of learning certain subjects more clearly.I can see the forest for the trees better.The learning disability has helped

As a young boy at night. I would watch my father take on task from work. He would stay

It was more of a time for the most talented players to have fun, while being at the Varsity Basketball games. We’d play incredibly hard pieces and make up our own stuff as we went along, because of the significantly smaller group size. Coming into junior year was when band became a lot more challenging for me. I auditioned for my schools highest performing, highest rated band, Wind Ensemble; I was accepted into the ensemble with a high audition score. Just like Marching Band and Symphonic Band, we would have a state-assessment to attend at the end of the year. The only difference was the process of getting to state-assessment. To make us stand out, we always played the hardest possible grade of sheet music, which was a grade six. This required countless hours of in-class rehearsals, as well as outside of class rehearsals if we felt like we really had to work on a particular part. But even through all of this stress, we’ve never once come up short of getting a superior rating at state-assessment. Band is one thing that I know I’ll keep with me for my entire life, because it has been filled with many life lessons that I will always be able to apply to the real

Most of my experience was spent working as a Learning Disabilities teacher for grades K-4. I managed IEP caseload, set up conferences, chaired IEP meetings, and participated on the diagnostic team. It was also my job to help the regular classroom teacher with proper modifications for the IEP students. During my last few years, I was transferred into the regular classroom setting to teach 1st & 2nd grade. I quickly found out that my special education experience was put to good use, helping to identify future students with possible special education needs.