The graduation season has come to a close....Please take a moment to read this Blog and reflect.
Congratulations to all the graduates out there! It seemed like most of the graduation ceremonies across the country took place this year. Unless you went to the University of Kansas. Trevor along with thousands of other KU students was eager to walk through the famous WWII memorial, the Campanile. It stands stoically atop "the hill" (Literally, the only hill in Kansas for miles and miles.) Typically, after walking through the Campanile, graduates make their way down the hill to the David Booth Memorial Stadium, whooping and hollering, adult beverages in hand, spraying the crowd with champagne! I was able to experience this true KU celebration back in the '90s when Todd graduated from the University of Kansas. Unfortunately, for the KU students of 2021, their ceremony was canceled! Not due to COVID, but due to dangerous storms. We all know from the Wizard of Oz how brutal the storms in Kansas can be. After making it through the pandemic, I'm not sure anyone wanted to head to the Land of Oz.
That being said, I think the biggest lesson learned this year has been resilience. The students at KU waited for a break in the storms and all headed for the Campanile with their friends. Still celebrating their rite to passage. Tears of joy and accomplishment. Also, tears of sadness as many of them moved, not only across the country but some across the globe. Bittersweet close to the college chapter in Trevor's life.
We were fortunate to have back-to-back years of double graduations. 2020 we had Clayton, who graduated from high school, and Tegan, who graduated from Palos South. 2021 not only did we have Trevor graduate from college, but we also had Tylar graduate from Palos South Junior High as well. We could not be more proud of our children. However, this is where I would like my blog to switch gears and take on the purpose I created it for. Not to feature my family and the trials and tribulations we face. But to honor those kids and families with special needs.
I have mentioned before I work as a paraprofessional in a local school district. I work primarily with students who have special needs. Working at school has given me a deep appreciation for my own children and how easy I have it. There are no doubts children always bring a level of challenge into a home. And all children have different needs or obstacles they face and obstacles a family faces. However, words can not express what I have learned and how grateful I feel to have been a part of our special education program at school. I have met some of the most amazing parents on the planet AND hands down some of the most AMAZING students in the universe.
There was a period of time I wanted to go back to school and get my master's in Special Education. However, I didn't feel that's where my strengths would be best suited. I enjoy working with the students and teaching them, but more so having fun with them. As a teacher, you have goals and data you have to produce for each student. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the special ed teachers that are capable of finding a balance between teaching, data collecting, and enjoying their students, determining ways they can better provide for their students.
That being said, creating my blog, raising money, and establishing a foundation where kids with special needs can create and fulfill a dream seemed like something I might be far better at. Along this path, there have been challenges for me or times I've questioned my mission. However, something amazing will happen and remind me I need to keep pushing forward.
I recently read an article from a mom who has a daughter with special needs and her reflection upon her daughter's graduation. It puts things in perspective and helps people see graduation from the eyes of a parent with a child who needs extra support. She is the parent that won't be sending their child off to college. The parent that isn't blasting FaceBook with endless photos of college announcements, graduation photos, or a newly decorated college dorm room in the fall. I have worked with some students that may fall into this category. It is heartbreaking. Not heartbreaking that they won't go to college. Heartbreaking that many people aren't aware of the hard work these children put in, heartbreaking that so many parents take for granted and put such difficult expectations on their children.
Earlier in this blog, I talked about resilience. We have all learned about resilience this year. Having experienced situations no one has ever faced before. By no means am I equating this to families with special needs. However, from the standpoint of teachers, business professionals, essential workers, restaurant employees, and almost everyone across the globe faced a fear they had never experienced before. So many students I work with face fears each and every day. Moment to moment, sometimes being unable to express exactly what they need in those moments. Sometimes it might not be fear, it could be the inability to regulate their physical body or emotional being. We know there are so many things children need on a regular basis, adding special situations to a child, increases the amount of care and attention these children need in ways we can not imagine unless you're living through this. When working with these students, resilience is a word that comes to mind. Our students keep trying and never give up. Whether it's the support they get from home, or the support they get from our staff. The strength of these students and parents is extraordinary. Truly out of this world. I have not walked in the shoes of a special needs parent. However, from one parent to another I have so much respect and admiration for those parents with kids who have special circumstances, the only thing I can think of to do is support them. Bring awareness and celebrate what they do as parents and students.
So as we celebrate the graduates this summer and years to come, please take a moment or two to think about those students that may have struggled to get where they are. Think about the parents that support those children. Think about ways you can show support and congratulate those students and parents for their tremendous accomplishments. Congratulations on the hard work, perseverance, and never-ending resilience! May we always be grateful for what is right in front of us.
"If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it, to begin with!"
-Dorothy "The Wizard of Oz"
Please also take the time to read the article I referred to...
Vintage crochet potholders made like Mimi & Gramzie by kbFAWN (etsy.com)
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