Change

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

--Dr. Seuss

Graduation...it's the end, and yet, a whole new beginning. Two of my students graduated one week ago today. Two students who have become like my own children as I taught them for two years and watched them grow as individuals and as citizens in society. I have learned a lot as I reflect on their experiences in my classroom, and I vow to be a better teacher because of it. I think maybe that's one of the most important parts of being an educator: reflecting on what you could do better and actually making those changes.

You see, it wasn't until I met with one of my student's caseworkers for the next phase of her life that I realized how I'd shortchanged them. The lady sat down with this student and said "Where would you like to work?" I mean, seriously? She didn't ask about her interests or things that she would like to try. So, the student answered based on the work experiences that she had in our classroom. She's had a few different worksites, but of those she preferred Freshway. She said she'd like to work at this local grocery store, even though I know she'd be perfect in a childcare facility or somewhere like that where she could be nurturing in a controlled environment. I should have given her that opportunity. Because I didn't, she does not know that is an option for her future. I mentioned this to the lady from the state and she said that she cannot ask about interests, she can only ask where the individual would like to get a job and they work on that specific goal. That's absurd. The nature of her disability means that the individual doesn't know what's available to her! SO, among other things, I vow to give my kids as many different experiences as they can individually handle so that when they get to the same point, they can answer based on all of the experiences they've had.

All of this being said, I know that the student would live a happy and fulfilled life if she did work in a grocery store setting. I guess it's the teacher-mom in me coming out because I just want more for her. I want what she doesn't even know she wants, if that makes sense.