Now I know I’ve advertised this blog as being a light-hearted day-to-day look at my life. I never promised everything would be humorous. Life isn’t always funny. Life is made up of too much to laugh all the time. Moments, places, feelings, people- these are a fraction, albeit an important one, they are entities that makeup this experience we were afforded called life. You must allow yourself to find appreciation in every one of the colors and brush strokes that create this big picture. Personally, I chose to allow people to be the foundation that makes my experience withstand the storms.
Now I have a career, where the day to day goings on are typically on an entirely different level of funny. I started this job just 9 short months ago completely blind to the impact this time would have on me. I was happy to have been given the opportunity of employment; however, I was in no way thrilled when I found out that due to my fellowship status, schools would be the primary worksite for me. I’ve never been luckier. September of 2011 marked the time when a group keystone people came into my life. I see 160 kids, each of whom inhabit their very own place in my heart. A few stand out more than others, while none are irrelevant. I see some patients at their homes, which the thought of was initially quite intimidating. The first home patient I saw changed my mind and my life forever.
I remember
the first time I arrived at the household, not knowing what to expect, but well
aware that something was about to happen that I would never forget. The patient
was not quick to take a liking to me, but during that first hour session, I was
able to read her and knew a short story about a Busch Gardens trip and a bodily
function of an elephant may be just the ticket to building the rapport I would
need to be an effective therapist and fixture in her life. Nine months later,
and she has been an effective therapist and fixture in my life. I am inspired
and humbled every minute I am in her presence. I am her speech therapist, but
she is the one who has taught me. I've taken her through the steps to maintain
focus, verbalize based on her feelings and make steps toward intentional
communication. Mind you, she is unable to speak a word, but fully capable off
telling you so much. She not only inspires me, but also makes me love what I do
more than I ever imagined possible. 
I never
would have imagined that I could be the catalyst in helping young adults
transition through some of the most difficult times of their lives. I never
thought, that because of how cruel kids can be, that I would be the only thing
they look forward to about coming to school every day. Ultimately I really
never would have believed that THEY are the thing that I look forward to about
going to work every day.
The positive
attitude and tenacity I have seen in so many whom have been dealt some of the
most difficult hands I can imagine, is so incredibly humbling and inspiring.
There have been infinite amounts of moments this year that have made me laugh,
cry, think, upset, anxious and an array of other emotions.
These
moments, which happen during what some may call a job, but I regard a
privilege, are what help keep me grounded. Every goal and objective whether on
the IEP or in life, that I assist them in reaching, is subsequently an
accomplishment in my own life. I will stop at nothing to help these amazing
people continue to improve, as they have never stopped in improving me.
Last week
one of my students asked a nurse on a field trip learning about blood types:
“so what blood type is HIV positive?”. That was funny, right? Ok, then I’m
back.
