Interact Club Reflection

Throughout my time in high school, I always observed the separation of the special education students from the rest of the student body. Although I'd hear many cruel comments about the differently-abled, like “they can’t ever do anything on their own,” I always wanted to understand and learn more about them. These remarks sounded false, but I kind of believed them because I had no experience with these students. My drive to learn more about differently-abled people fueled my desire to make them feel included in our school. It was observations like these that inspired me to join Interact club and help my community through volunteer work.
My opportunity to personally interact with these students appeared with Circle of Love, an Interact-hosted

volunteering event where I got the chance to bond with my school’s special education students. For the duration of the event, my partner, Genesis, and I engaged in bonding activities. I was initially unsure how the interaction would go, but by adapting to her pace, we eventually talked like friends. The belief that the differently-abled didn’t have their own opinions and couldn’t behave gradually proved to be wrong. Not only was she kind and willing to participate in the activities, she was also expressive, telling me about her own interests and experiences. My surprise by the contrast between the generalizations I’d heard and my actual experiences with the differently-abled changed my perspective.
My time with Genesis has taught me that stigmas don’t define people. Instead of listening to preconceptions, interacting with others with an open mind is the right way to connect. Since then, we've kept in touch, which has inspired me to volunteer at other events associated with the special needs community. With the knowledge I’ve gained, spreading awareness through word-of-mouth to inform others may help to shift my community’s opinion, influencing them to be more inclusive. It is by spending my time helping others through Interact that creating a more inclusive and tolerant environment will be possible. By better understanding the people I help, I can effectively serve my community’s ever-changing needs.