I have always known that I wanted to pursue the field of education in some capacity. However, it was not until my first semester of college that I found my calling for special education. While searching for an on-campus professional opportunity, I came across CrossingPoints, a program for young adults with intellectual disabilities pursuing postsecondary education at The University of Alabama. They were searching for student mentors. I knew that no matter what I decided to teach, I wanted to have the knowledge and experience to provide extra support to a blended classroom, students with and without common disabilities. However, I quickly found my passion for special education and knew that it was where I was supposed to be. Additionally, I quickly realized the perception of special education as it related to diversity and inclusion. Often when I heard these terms “diversity and inclusion,” many identifying factors came to mind such as race, gender, and other aspects. However, what many people and myself failed to remember was that special education is undoubtedly the most diverse group of people and they fail to be included in every aspect of life. As I began advocating for these students by educating my peers, I always mentioned the phrase, “People first. People with disabilities, not disabled people. Their disability does not define who they are or what they are capable of.” One student that I have had the privilege of assisting is Chandler Herrero, a student in the CrossingPoints program. Since August, we have worked together to mold him into a functioning member and asset to society. Through time management preparation, independent living skills, and social interactions, Chandler has made leaps and bounds. To improve punctuality, Chandler has learned the importance of setting alarms and keeping a digital planner. As a result of his efforts with independent living skills, Chandler can take all of his medication, make his bed, fold laundry, and a plethora of other skills. Lastly, through professional experiences, Chandler can now professionally execute the roles of a physical education teacher aide, a medical sanitizing assistant, and a recreational apprentice. Through these experiences, I can confidently say that Chandler is prepared for life after college. These skills will benefit Chandler by allowing him to not only make decisions for and care for himself, but also allow him to serve as an example for students with intellectual disabilities everywhere that a disability is simply an identity, not a hindrance. Through Chandler, I have learned that everyone is intelligent, even if others learn differently than myself. I will assuredly take these skills into my future career, and I am ecstatic to play a small role in transforming student’s lives through special education.

As a CrossingPoints mentor (program that allows students with intellectual disabilities to attend college), I have been blessed to work with multiple students, but one specifically that changed my perspective on life as a whole named Chandler Herrero. Chandler has down syndrome, but he has shown me that he can be and will be independent and a functioning member of society, regardless of his disability. Through Chandler, I have seen the importance of promoting the fact that special education is just as important as every other field of education. “Diversity and Inclusion” is mentioned at UA numerous times; most people immediately think race, gender, and many other identity factors. However, many people fail to remember that special education is very diverse and fails to be included often. As a mentor, I assist the college students I work with by teaching them independent living skills and help them with their coursework. But, most importantly, I have instilled a drive in myself to decrease the stigma of special education and show the world just how great Chandler is and other students alike.

Junie B. Jones once said, “Kindergarten is where you go to meet new friends and not watch TV.” My favorite book series of all time is Junie B. Jones; specifically, my favorite book is Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. This is my favorite book because of the lasting impact it had on me when I started school. Even though I had an older brother already in school, the thought of going to school horrified me. Growing up, I was always very shy and backwards, so the thought of having to talk to other kids scared me beyond measure. However, before I knew it, the first day of Kindergarten was approaching. I begged my mother to not make me go, that I was afraid to leave her, so much that I started bawling as soon as we got to my classroom. My Kindergarten teacher, seeing how upset I was, took me by the hand and led me to the “Reading Rug” as she began reading a book to us about a Kindergartener who also felt scared on their first day, but realized how much fun school could be. On that day, I was able to relate to Junie B. Jones, and I decided that if she could make friends, then so could I. By the end of the day, I had dried my tears and decided to talk to some other students. On that day, I made lasting friendships that carried me through my senior year of high school. After Kindergarten, I bought the entire series and read them, as this sparked a love for reading in me. Further, my love for reading inspired me to become an educator, as I plan to read Junie B. Jones to my future Kindergarten classroom as well.

As a college student, it is often difficult to feel that my actions are truly impactful. However, one cause that I am positively benefiting is special education at The University of Alabama through CrossingPoints. As CrossingPoints mentor, I have been blessed to work with multiple students with disabilities, but one specifically that changed my perspective on life as a whole named Chandler Herrero. Chandler has down syndrome, but he has shown me that he can be and will be independent and a functioning member of society, regardless of his disability. Through Chandler, I have seen the importance of promoting the fact that special education is just as important as every other field of education. “Diversity and Inclusion” is mentioned at UA numerous times; most people immediately think race, gender, and many other identity factors. However, many people fail to remember that special education is very diverse and fails to be included often. As a mentor, I assist the college students I work with by teaching them independent living skills and help them with their coursework. But, most importantly, I have instilled a drive in myself to decrease the stigma of special education and show the world just how great Chandler is and other students alike.

Poet Leonard Cohen once said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Coming from a small town Alabama, mental health was never discussed in a positive light. People who had mental health struggles were considered weak, especially in males. From the time I was old enough to go to school, life immediately became a competition. Grades, sports, social media followers, and everything in between was a constant battle to be the best. Throughout elementary and middle school, I did whatever it took to be at the top, even if that meant going against my morals or any other means necessary. The need to look like the funniest, smartest, most involved, most athletic student consumed me, no matter how I really was on the inside. However, what people did not see was the tension I had with my family. That I always felt like the black sheep of my family, and I was using these commitments to attempt to fill the void I was lacking from my parents. They did not see that my family was also facing financial issues, so badly that we almost lost our home. But, on the outside, Dillon had the perfect life. Nice clothes, seemed to love school, and always energetic with a smile on his face. Would anyone even believe him if he said he felt that he had depression? That no matter how hard he tried, he never felt good enough for anyone? For years, I told no one how I truly felt, afraid of being vulnerable. Or even worse, anxious that people would know that their perception about me and my life was a complete lie. These fears held me back from being my true and authentic self in high school. I cared about what others thought about me to the extent that I became a lifeless robot that was unable to decipher between my feelings and how others told me I felt. I was so afraid of failing and ruining my reputation that I refused to step out of my comfort zone. It was not until my freshman year of college that I began vocalizing my struggle to my supervisor that I trusted, as she listened thoughtfully to every word that I spoke. Slowly, she began to help me realize the normality of my situation, and that I was not alone. She said, “Stop seeking validation from the people who do not care and start listening to the many people who truly care for you.” These words are still ringing in my ears today as loudly as they did on that day. When I start to fall back into my old traps and habits, I remind myself of that affirmative phrase. Because of the confidence I found, I applied it to my life and decided to try new things. As a result, I became a student mentor for CrossingPoints, a program at UA that enables students with intellectual disabilities to attend college. Through this, I found a passion for special education, a passion I would not have had without speaking out about my feelings.

As a college student at The University of Alabama, I have been blessed to have numerous opportunities to gain experience for my major. Since September, I have been a CrossingPoints Student Mentor that assists college students with intellectual disabilities. One student specifically that has changed my perspective on life as a whole named Chandler Herrero. Chandler has down syndrome, but he has shown me that he can be and will be independent and a functioning member of society, regardless of his disability. Through Chandler, I have seen the importance of promoting the fact that special education is just as important as every other field of education. “Diversity and Inclusion” is mentioned at UA numerous times; most people immediately think race, gender, and many other identity factors. However, many people fail to remember that special education is very diverse and fails to be included often. Through this program, I have instilled a drive in myself to decrease the stigma of special education and show the world just how great Chandler is and other students alike. Thus, I feel that the stigma surrounding special education is the biggest problem facing the world right now. We as a society can work on this problem by making a conscious effort to be inclusive by a few short easy steps. One, when referring to these people, remember that they are people first: "People with disabilities," not "disabled people." Second, making sure that you are treating them just as you would treat anyone else is important, as they are just like everyone else. These two solutions are simple and obtainable to enable people to become more inclusive.

Harvey Specter once said, “Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself.” Throughout high school and college, I have worked to live by this quote. Coming from a small town in Ider, Alabama, it was often difficult to push past the stigma that attending a large university was even possible. However, I was determined to succeed, and I am proud to have made it to this point in my journey. Through being involved, developing connections, and fostering community, I am making the most of my time here at the Capstone. Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary & Special Education, with the intent of applying to the Multiple Abilities Program in the Spring of 2022. Afterwards, I plan to pursue a double master’s degree and double doctorate degree in Collaborative Special Education and Higher Education. After graduation, I plan to stay in the Tuscaloosa area and work in the field of special education for a number of years. I am passionate about becoming a teacher because of my experiences working with students and my current views on special education. Throughout my time at UA, I have been involved as a Teacher Cadet, a tutor through Bama Tutors For Service, an Ignite Teaching Facilitator through Teach for America, and a mentor for the CrossingPoints program. Through Teacher Cadets, I have had the opportunity to go into a third grade classroom and teach lessons and aid the teacher in doing so. As a tutor, I have worked one-on-one with students by reading books for them and teaching them crucial lessons in reading like syllables and suffixes. As an Ignite Teaching Facilitator, I virtually mentor elementary students and strengthen their reading comprehension skills. Lastly, as a CrossingPoints mentor, I have been blessed to work with multiple students, but one specifically that changed my perspective on life as a whole named Chandler Herrero. Chandler has down syndrome, but he has shown me that he can be and will be independent and a functioning member of society, regardless of his disability. Through Chandler, I have seen the importance of promoting the fact that special education is just as important as every other field of education. “Diversity and Inclusion” is mentioned at UA numerous times; most people immediately think race, gender, and many other identity factors. However, many people fail to remember that special education is very diverse and fails to be included often. As a mentor, I assist the college students I work with by teaching them independent living skills and help them with their coursework. But, most importantly, I have instilled a drive in myself to decrease the stigma of special education and show the world just how great Chandler is and other students alike.

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Philanthropist Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” People are given the chance daily to gain education through many college campuses around the world. However, the skills acquired from college are far greater than just the knowledge within a degree. College is essential to success and extremely important to me because of the experience I can gain, the relationships I can build, and the opportunity to take care of my grandmother and make her proud through my success. In many different aspects of my life, I have worked numerous hours to build my reputation through my leadership roles in my school. Through being a Peer Mentor, Yearbook Staff Editor, Class President, Beta President, FCA Leader, FCCLA Reporter, and FBLA President, I have learned many vital leadership skills such as how to organize events and speak in front of large groups. Through college, I would not only be able to utilize these competencies but strengthen them as well. College is detrimental to my success because of the authoritative experience I would be able to carry over into my future career as a Child Psychiatrist. As a high school senior, my thoughts often drift to how I have spent my moments. As I ponder on my time used, immediate feelings of pride and thankfulness flood over me. I have been extremely blessed to build countless relationships with family, friends, teachers, and administrators that will carry through my entire life. Additionally, in my everyday walk, I have endeavored to speak with clarity and understanding. As a leader, fellow members needed the assurance to know that their voice was heard, and I made a point to keep that possible. College will enable me to create new bonds with classmates and professors while improving my communication skills. On Christmas day, 2020, while I was eating breakfast with my grandmother, she had a sudden stroke and became unresponsive. At that moment, I was not sure what the future would bring. Immediately, I called 911 and within minutes, she was carried to a nearby emergency room and diagnosed with brain bleeding. Because of coronavirus regulations, we were not allowed to visit her and could not talk to her for multiple days. When I was finally able to communicate with her over the phone, she did not choose to focus on her burdensome situation; instead she said, “I miss you. Don’t worry about me, I will be home before you know it. I love you.” I strive to keep this same attitude with the battles I face daily. Because of my her family's financial situation, she was not able to attend college. However, she would tell me quite often that she wanted better for me; that if I continued to work hard with love and passion, the cards would fall into place. I want to attend college for many reasons, but ultimately, I want to attend college to make my grandmother proud. Thank you for your consideration.

Harvey Specter once said, “Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself.” In many different aspects of my life, I have worked numerous hours to build my reputation through my leadership roles in my school. Through being a Peer Mentor, Yearbook Staff Editor, Class President, Beta President, FCA Leader, FCCLA Reporter, and FBLA President, I have learned many vital leadership skills such as how to organize events, speak in front of large groups, and how to build lasting relationships with my advisors and peers. I am also involved in multiple extracurricular activities, including varsity cross country, basketball, and golf. Outside of school, I attend New Home Baptist Church and participate as an active member of our youth band. I also find enjoyment in spending time with my grandmother by taking her out to eat, making cookies with her, and completing word searches with her. Throughout grade school, my thoughts toward a lifelong career changed many times. However, one dream that stayed evident was attending college. From my initial thoughts of becoming a Spanish teacher to now wanting to pursue a degree in Child Psychiatry, college plays an essential role in my future. Child Psychiatry is my passion now because I love helping children and I have an admirable reputation as an exceptional listener. My younger brother had to visit a psychiatrist when he was much younger because my family thought there was a possibility he had a behavioral disorder. After visiting, we realized he did not, but his psychiatrist did not leave us empty handed. He gave us multiple strategies to help Lucas stay focused. Before that day, when I thought about someone who helps people, my mind immediately drifted to a doctor or nurse. However, psychiatrists are just as detrimental to people today because of the mental and emotional help they bring. I would like to become a psychiatrist so I could assist people in everyday life. Thank you for your consideration.

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