Alliance for Catholic Education
"Some of my most pleasing moments of teaching occurred as I realized just how well I had come to know and understand a particular student's way of thinking and heart."
"Mr. Kevin, I think we have a problem." Donald was standing over me.
"What is it, Donald?" I asked as I slid out of my sleeping bag.
"Well, Mr. Kevin, I think I had an accident." Donald had climbed out of his tent but, unfortunately, I inferred that it was not dirt that covered his hands.
Once back at our cabin, I began helping Donald to clean up. It was my first Friday with the campers at Bay Cliff Health Camp, a summer-long intensive therapy camp for children and teenagers with a wide range of disabilities. To my dismay, I realized that Donald would need me to do more than just hand him wet wipes.
As I squatted down behind Donald, the unthinkable happened. Without warning, he passed gas, and I was left staggering out of the bathroom. Unbelievable. A whole summer of this? In that moment, I figured I had just two options: laugh or cry. Fortunately, Donald made the decision for me.
I stepped back in to face Donald, who was shaking his head. "Well, Mr. Kevin," he sighed. "You counselors really cooked those baked beans last night." We laughed hysterically, and I had one of the best summers of my life him and the rest of his bunkmates.
* * *
Working at Bay Cliff, with children like Donald, I discovered the field of pediatric occupational therapy (OT). I had been drawn to working with children with disabilities for a while, but the concept of OT was new to me; I loved the idea of problem-solving strategies to help kids like Donald increase their independence in activities of daily living. Since this discovery between my sophomore and junior years, my interest in OT has only grown.
Yet I still very much wanted to try my hand at teaching. I loved working, playing, and sharing knowledge with children, and had a strong desire to do service upon finishing my undergraduate degree. The idea of giving back to the Catholic schools that had given so much to me was also very appealing, as was earning a Master of Education in the process. With OT still in the back of my mind, I set my heart on the Alliance for Catholic Education
Now that my ACE experience is drawing closer to its end, two things are becoming increasingly clear:
1. Despite my love of the classroom, my true passion is in working with children with disabilities.
2. Teaching 4th grade has left me with countless practical skills and life lessons to support me as I begin my journey to become an occupational therapist.
Building student rapport, connecting with my students' families, implementing Student Support Plans, problem-solving strategies to support students (academically, organizationally, behaviorally, socially), collaborating with my colleagues, facilitating small groups, managing large groups, differentiating in the classroom . . . I could write a book on all the ways that being at teaching has prepared me to take the next step in my life.
More important than any skills that can be listed on a resume, though, teaching has reinforced and strengthened my love of children, as well as demonstrated to me the crucial importance of forming solid relationships with each individual child. While the constant energy of the classroom is invigorating, I've found the most joy during the times I've spent with just a few students at once: during guided reading small groups, after-school tutoring, snack-time conversations, or chats during recess. Some of my most pleasing moments of teaching occurred as I realized just how well I had come to know and understand a particular student's way of thinking and heart.
It is upon these two essential takeaways-love of children and the importance of genuine one-on-one relationships-that I hope to build my vocation as an occupational therapist.