Before my special school placement, I wasn't entirely sure where I saw myself as a future teacher.
Like many pre-service teachers, I was still discovering my interests, strengths, and the environments where I felt most confident. I was open to learning, but I didn't necessarily imagine myself working in a special school setting.
When I first began my placement, I found myself feeling overwhelmed. The environment was unlike anything I had previously experienced. There were different communication styles, different support needs, constant movement, and so many new things to learn all at once.
I remember leaving some days feeling exhausted and wondering whether I would ever feel completely comfortable in such a fast-paced environment.
But something unexpected happened.
The more time I spent there, the less I focused on the environment around me and the more I focused on the students themselves.
I started learning their personalities.
I learned what made them laugh.
I learned their interests, their strengths, and the many ways they communicated with the people around them.
As those relationships grew, the things that once felt overwhelming slowly became familiar.
I found my rhythm.
I stopped worrying about whether I was doing everything perfectly and started focusing on being present, building connections, and celebrating the small moments of growth that happen every day.
By the end of my placement, I found myself looking forward to each day. The environment that once felt unfamiliar had become a place where I felt comfortable, confident, and genuinely happy to be.
What surprised me most wasn't how much I learned about special education.
It was how much I learned about the importance of relationships.
The placement that I hadn't initially pictured for myself became one of the most rewarding experiences of my teaching journey.
It reminded me that sometimes the experiences we don't expect can teach us the most.
And sometimes, when we give ourselves time to settle in, connect with others, and find our own groove, we discover opportunities we never knew we needed.
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