I've been going through a lot of changes in the past couple years: the typical graduating college, moving away, first "real" job, etc. I suppose you can call my recent adventures real jobs. They have taught me more about myself than I knew there was to discover. Most people know I moved out to Colorado to be an adaptive ski instructor. I walked a mile downhill to arrive at the ski office, study up on my lesson for the day (which includes figuring out specific details of a certain disability, and the motivation- mostly lack of- for your student's desire to ski, and gathering adaptive equipment to get your student down the mountain safely), then I'd be on the hill basically from 9-3:30, and after the office was cleaned I would walk the mile back uphill to arrive at my semi-rustic cabin. I'm tired just thinking about it. Needless to say, the winter was long, and a bit too long for my liking. After I completed the season, and returned to Michigan to graduate from CMU, I packed up once again to return to "Colorful Colorado".
A few short months later my amazing mom and dad arrived with a Uhaul full of saved belongings for the moment when one of their children needed some help furnishing a place. It was pretty comical when my parents arrived… The yard (if you want to call the beautiful plot of endless weeds with a few blades of grass) was reaching almost waist height. My dad couldn't believe the belongings he was passing down to me were going to be housed under this crooked yellow roof that wasn't exactly cleaned appropriately before our lease was to begin. Like the supportive parents they are, Paul and Marietta helped mop, scrub, dust, vacuum, sweep, mow, plant, water… etc. etc. etc. It's crazy that I have been in this place a year.
So much has changed.
It's a full year later. Our ridiculous landlord conned us into a 13 month lease in this house that I'm pretty sure is rotting around me. I am single for the first time in 3 1/2 years, although I use that term annoyingly loosely… I think the recurring friendship/ relationship/ break-up is going on about 6 full months now. I'm attempting to learn how to take care of a vehicle on my own. I'm paying the bills- with my own money. I've held my first "real" job going on 9 months.
I am not, however at work on a Tuesday morning, because I am concussed. For those of you who don't actually know what my job has been over these past months, I will attempt to explain it to you now. I work at a school for children with disabilities. In order to be admitted to the school you must meet certain criteria. The criteria includes: having an IQ below a certain level (cognitive disability), having a dual diagnosis (add on psychological disability), and significant behavioral issues as a result of the dual diagnosis (potentially very physically aggressive kids). So. There is a lot going on with my students. My particular class that I teach (thank god with a one-to-one ratio of staff to students) is comprised of kids ages 14-21. Big kids, mainly. Big, strong, mostly nonverbal kids. I love it and hate it simultaneously, everyday. So back to being concussed- my classroom is one of the more "violent" ones. On Thursday a student punched me in the back, while head-butting me, sending me slamming into a wall sinking in desperation for my coworkers to rescue me from my powerless position.
I wish I could say this is abnormal. It's not. The worst is when another student becomes scared or upset in a crisis situation such as the one i just mentioned, and there are 2 students "going off" at once. Staff from all around the room, run to try to put the 2nd student in a physical restraint while the first student is being escorted out of the room. Inevitably there is not enough staff for the simultaneous situations, so "ASSIST" is yelled, and more staff from other classrooms come running. I have become quite accustomed to crisis management and implementing behavior support plans that attempt to provide positive coping mechanisms for my students and allowing crisis situations to be minimized as much as possible. Like I said, I love and hate my job. Sometimes making it though the day is an epic success- for both the staff and students! Soon, though I will be putting in my two weeks notice, which will be a happy and sad day. I know a lot of people think I am insane for actually liking aspects of my job, but at the end of the day, I like to think that I make a difference and improve the lives of my students in some capacity. And hey- at least I'm not bored… it's always, always, interesting.
On September 6, 2011 I will be attending new student orientation at DePaul University. I know this move is necessary for me on many levels. I will be taking classes to earn a Master's Degree in School Counseling. I am excited for this new adventure, and can't wait to have the skill set to help individuals on a large and small scale. I am nervous to move to the city. I like space. I like the mountains. I like camping on the weekends, and backpacking when possible. I like to rock climb and ski. And I love Denver weather. But I know- Chicago is a great city and I am lucky to have the chance to live there with my sister- who I have more love for than words can begin to express. Everyone talks about the great food, night life, and of course the water. I'm excited about finally having good friends and family back in my life on the regular. Most importantly, I am looking forward to focusing on me… change is healthy and I am craving one. For now, I'm trying to enjoy my time in Denver, hang out with the friends that I'm going to miss, and do Colorado type things… white water raft, trail run, hike, camp, and wear my chacos sandals with it being a popular style decision by most people in the city! For now, I'm going to share some of my favorite Colorado photographs.
Stay Tuned..
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