It started in high school, my best friend was diagnosed with Autism. I’ve wanted nothing more than to help those with disabilities learn. I’ve seen challenges students with disabilities face and I want to show them how to overcome those. Learning is hard, COVID took away their prime learning time. I want to help as many students as I can. All students need someone who cares. I don’t know if anybody shows care towards them and if I can show them that someone cares for them that’s enough for me.

I was working with a student who has disabilities and is non verbal. While doing an activity together my paraprofessional and I wanted to “test” something. So we tried it and BOOM. That student can read. Nobody had tried to see what they were capable until they came to our school. That student (in an adaptive program) ended up reading 2 levels above their grade after continuation of work.

I would like to give some back to my school system. We’re a very small town. I want to help my school financially and have the opportunity to provide more resources to them. I want to be able to be the assistance that helps my our school say “we need that, let’s get it” compared to “we don’t have the funding for that”. Schools need resources, and I just want to help in a way to provide that.