Special Education Narrative

Into my second year of primary school, it became evident that I was struggling to keep up with my peers. I was below average in both reading and mathematics. I was given an awry of tests to determine exactly what the learning disability was. For the first time in my life, I ended up passing every test, and it was determined that I did not have a learning disability. Without any explanation as to why I was so far behind my peers, the school found it in my best interest to place me in special education classes. I was placed outside of my main-stream class and put into a much smaller class. This was in effort to give me more one-on-one attention in hopes I could begin to catch up with my peers. I remained in special education classes throughout

my primary school years. When I started jr. high I was placed main-stream. I no longer was considered special education. This did not mean that I was no longer behind my peers, this just meant simply that I would not be attending any special class. I was in fact years behind my peers.

However, being in special education classes, they overlook many of the formative education milestones. They quiet simply just pass children through. Needless to say I graduated from High School without taking any of the required math. I did not even know all of my basic math tables. I was still below grade average in reading and writing. I basically graduated high school by “slipping through the cracks” so to say. This left me both with very low self-esteem and believing I would never be able to further my education. In 2003 I decided to do the unimaginable. I enrolled for classes at the local jr. college. As to be expected, my entrance exam scores were rather low. This did not stop me from pursuing something that I never thought was possible. Not only was it possible, but so was learning. Class after class I began to excel. I was on the Deans Honor List every semester with the exception of two, and that is because I was on the Presidents Honor Roll. I was so thrilled that I could actually learn. Once I started getting A’s and B’s, I began to thrive on learning. This was something that for so long I believed I was not capable of doing. I was at or above average, in terms of grades, with my peers for the first time

ever. I went on to graduate with an Associates in General Studies and a 3.7 GPA. All of my educational experiences have influenced me today. My self-esteem is much greater these days. I know that I am able to learn and thrive with my classmates. Since these revelations, being in school is when I am at my best. I do not take lightly what I have learned from my educational experiences growing up. What I do take away from it now is a stronger desire to learn and challenge myself educationally. As well as, influence those that maybe struggling with a similar path, that if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.