Special education services played a huge role in my success throughout school and still shape my future goals today. Growing up with a childhood medical disorder along with a learning disability made school really inconsistent and, at times, overwhelming. I missed a lot of school because of being sick and struggled to retain information, which made it hard to keep up. Without the structure and support of special education, it would have been easy to fall behind. Instead, those services gave me the tools I needed to keep moving forward. From a young age, I received individualized instruction that helped me learn in ways that actually worked for me. In elementary school, one-on-one and small group support helped me build basic skills in reading and writing. Teachers like Mrs. Dehass, Ms. Katzen, special educator Marie Nicole, and Mrs. Janet Levy took extra time to adjust lessons and find creative ways to teach me so I didn’t feel discouraged. Their support not only helped me improve academically, but also made me feel more confident in myself. Middle school was a tough time both emotionally and academically, but special education support helped me stay on track. With extra help, especially in English, I started to see that I was capable of more than I thought. I credit Mr. Christian B. LaCroix not only for helping me improve my work, but also for giving me stability during a time when I really needed it. In high school, special education helped me become more independent. With continued accommodations and guidance from my resource team, I learned how to advocate for myself, stay organized, and manage my workload skills I know I’ll need in college. Even in subjects like math, which has always been challenging for me, educators like Mr. Books worked with me to find strategies that actually helped. Because of that, I was able to reach goals I once didn’t think were possible, including applying to college. The impact of special education goes way beyond grades for me. It taught me resilience, persistence, and how to keep going even when things feel difficult. It also shaped what I want to do in the future. Because of the support I received, I want to go into the mental health field and help people who might feel discouraged or overlooked, the same way I once did. I want to be that kind of support for someone else. Special education didn’t hold me back it helped me grow. It gave me the foundation I needed to succeed and the motivation to keep pushing forward. With the help of Mrs. Garlick, I’ve already connected with disability services at the University of Kentucky, and I’m ready to use those resources to keep growing and reaching my goals.