Work...

This past Wednesday I started my first post college full time job! I guess it is about time that I make the transition to this so called "adult life". I am very happy to report the transition has been a blast and I am in LOVE with my job...except the alarm going off each morning at 6am...I still have not mastered how to not hit the snooze twice on it but hopefully with time, I will get better! The best part about my job is the amazing little children I get to work with. They are some of the most loving, funniest, happiest, and care free children I have ever had the opportunity to be around and they make waking up each morning totally worth it. I work in a SH classroom with 3rd-5th graders who make me a better person each day and who always make me forget about my trials and bad days. The one little boy I work most with is a little blind boy. I was so excited when I found out he was seeing impaired because it brought me back to my roots--my childhood of being able to be with Stephanie each day from Kindergarten forward. I love being able to rely back on my previous knowledge of things such as braille, cane mobility, and games which help them to adapt to life better. The sayings this little boy comes up with make me smile from ear to ear! He has a love for new things--especially new shoes. Each time he meets someone, he asks the name and what they have on their feet. Once they respond "shoes" he asks, "are your shoes new or old"...before I have the chance to warn them to say new, half the people say, "oh these are pretty old" and he gets so frustrated! It is the funniest thing to watch because he grunts and then goes, "well I am going to go buy you new shoes because you have BEAUTIFUL feet and they need new shoes". If you happen to say your shoes are new, he does a little happy dance! So I call him happy feet! I am his special helper and I love it because of the things he tells me. Yesterday he kept saying, "Miss Stephanie you are beautiful, you are so gorgeous and precious to me"...keep in mind, he is blind! I love getting compliments from a blind little boy! The students in the classroom are full of so much energy. Each day when I walk out to my car to go home, I have a new sense of life and enjoyment for the things I have in my life. The moral of this story is be grateful for what you have--don't make an issue out of a non issue and look on the bright side of life. Most of the students I work with will not live a full life but that does not effect them. Some of them will never be able to live on their own, but they don't mind it. If they can be so happy all day then why can't I? Why do I get frustrated with things in my life instead of looking for the better? I know working at this school is going to make me such a better person and I look forward to the days, weeks, months, and years ahead I have of working with special needs kids. They truly do bring out the best in me and I love it! I am excited for Monday to roll around as I walk into the classroom with my Starbucks to awaiting children who are so eager to learn...not to mention the hugs that await when you walk in the door are pretty amazing! :)