Essay: A Career As A Peer Assistant

We are constantly going through things that changes us, big and small changes, everything we do makes a difference in our life. Some more than others. Thinking of what has brought the most historical significance in my life is easy, and never did I imagine this could very well shape the rest of my life. Throughout my senior year of high school, these kids had more of an impact on me, than all 3 previous years combined. They were loving, inviting, and honestly sometimes a pain in the butt, even through the bad stuff, they’ve taught me more than they could ever know. I will always be appreciative for how they have shaped me throughout my senior year.
In 2015-2016 my senior year of highschool, I was a peer assistant for students with disabilities
Monday through Friday from 2:00 - 3:30. This class had 3 students with disabilities and it became historically significant to me for several reasons.
First, growing up I knew I wanted my future profession had to involve working with children.
I had several ideas about becoming a social worker, teacher, or counselor. I never knew exactly what career path I wanted to take, until I became apart of this class. Going through this class as an assistant really showed me how much I admired this career, and how much I wanted take this on this to be my career.
As soon as I realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life, I asked Mrs. Hendrix, the teacher of the peer assistant class, information about this career so I could know more about the pros and cons of the profession. Everything Mrs. Hendrix informed me of just made it more clear that, this is what I want to study in college, and to hopefully be able to become a special education teacher. It was amazing how this one class helped me decide what I wanted to do with my future.
Second, the students, in the picture above, are one of the few children I got work with while being a peer assistant. Not only is this significant to me, because I want to help students like them, but because these students left a huge impact on my life. They, not knowingly, helped me see the struggles they go through everyday, as well as everything that they can be great at, and just as capable to do the things that i can do
myself.
They showed me that even when things get hard, you have to keep pushing through the bad stuff. They taught me that you can only grow from your mistakes and they’re necessary for life. For once in my life, I realized that I’m going to mess up, that things will be hard, but it can only get better. They showed me that it is always okay to ask for help. They were inspiring.
Why am I Historically Significant? I am historically significant,because this experience has helped me decide, I want to be apart of a career that many aren't willing to do. According to the 49 states have reported a shortage for special education teachers, 82% special educators believe there are not enough professionals to meet the needs of students with disabilities. So because of what the way the class impacted me could make a difference with the shortage of special education teachers. Had I not been selected to be an assistant I most likely would not be majoring in Special Education and wanting to become a Special Education teacher because I never would have been able to see a glimpse of the career and become intrigued with it. Had anyone else be put in the position I was in doesn't necessarily mean the experience would cause them to want to teach students with disabilities, because I knew I wanted to work with kids it affected me differently than it could anyone else.