I have to admit I did not realize how emotional this would be for me. The emotion hit me because I have been working so hard for so long it was hard to believe I had finally achieved my goal.
I started my journey in September of 2016. I have a Master's degree In Public Administration (MPA): Human Services, but it wasn't enough. I knew i wanted to help children. I just was not aware at what capacity when i obtained my first master's degree. I wanted to re-vamp my whole career so that I could be happy. I worked for the state as a food-stamp social worker. I hated it. I decided this was not what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. I didn't realize that I would not be working directly with the people who needed help.
So, I decided to make a change. I made this change in the type of jobs I applied for and obtained.I went on to work in an elementary school with special needs and work with special needs throughout the summer. I already had a passion for special needs due to my niece being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.
I already work in a school setting as a PASS behavior interventionist. I have worked in a Functionally Mentally Disabled (FMD) classroom as a Para-educator, and I have worked for Supporting Therapeutic Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities Everyday (STRIDE). STRIDE is a program in our state that provides services for individuals with disabilities. I have had a passion for helping special needs students for a very long time.
My interest started when my niece was born. My niece was diagnosed with Asperger’s when she was in elementary school. It was hard because Asperger’s at the time of her diagnosis was just being considered part of the spectrum for Autism. If you would like to learn more about Asperger’s syndrome, I have these three websites to be the most informational.