Throughout much of my life, I wasn’t aware of how each person differed from the next, more specifically those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. I grew up alongside my brother, Matt, who has autism (ASD), whereby, I was often trapped by confusion of how to ‘help’ him or understand him when many couldn’t, which often left me defeated. However, the day I entered high school, a story I’ll be telling until the end of time, was an experience that opened a new door to this mentality. All that happened was a quick walk-by interaction between my brother and me, and about half of the Varsity football team that followed behind him as this ‘big friend group’. I was both overcome by, one, the idea of him having such a big support system, and, two, the knowledge he was in a safe social environment, despite years of battling otherwise. Since a seemingly small moment, my ambition has been to preserve that contentment and tranquility and to do that for anyone who crosses my path from that day forward. Every interaction I've had since is inspired by that day. I joined my high school’s Best Buddies chapter after that first week, an organization that stands for equality, no matter your abilities, and that forming friendships can blossom into much more for special needs students like my brother. The new, unique people I would've otherwise never connected with, educated me and changed my view on life. In the many opportunities that Best Buddies provided me with, I was given a role where I could educate those around me from my first-hand experience with my brother. My love for this organization and advocating for students with special needs came from such a small act of kindness. It is breathtaking to look back on now as I sit here as a Junior majoring in Special Education, a dream of mine since my freshman year of high school. The purity of moments like that where I knew my brother was supported and not walking around the hallways in isolation has made me the person I am today. I would never take that moment back knowing that I wouldn’t have the passion and gratitude towards such communities that I have currently. I’m hopeful my future is filled with additional gratitude, learning, and further understanding of special education. My desire for the future is to be relational. My mother endured so much to get my brother to a level of comprehensive, cognitive, and social ability, from being non-verbal at five to verbal, but masking, at twenty-three. There were endless meetings with the Special Education team at our schools. Many tears and much advocacy. I may not be my mother, but as someone going into Special Education, I want to act upon things that my brother’s team was never successful with. I hope to get to a position in special education, where I can speak with parents as if they are my mother, meet students within the Special Education program that bring me back to Best Buddies, and help students grow in the same ways that I saw my brother. Special education has a significant place in my heart, apart from a profession, and I’m hopeful my passion, experience, and drive to be in such a beautiful field will allow me to serve my duty in the most effective way possible.

My desire for the future is to be relational. My mother endured so much to get my brother, who has autism (ASD) to a level of comprehensive, cognitive, and social ability, from being non-verbal at five to verbal, but masking, at twenty-three. There were endless meetings with the Special Education team at our schools. Many tears and much advocacy. I may not be my mother, but as someone going into Special Education, I want to act upon things that my brother’s team was never successful with. I hope to get to a position in special education, where I can speak with parents as if they are my mother, meet students within the Special Education program that bring me back to Best Buddies, and help students grow in the same ways that I saw my brother. Special education has a significant place in my heart, apart from a profession, and I’m hopeful my passion, experience, and drive to be in such a beautiful field will allow me to serve my duty in the most effective way possible.

Throughout much of my life, I wasn’t aware of how each person differed from the next, more specifically those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. I grew up alongside my brother, Matt, who has autism (ASD), whereby, I was often trapped by confusion of how to ‘help’ him or understand him when many couldn’t, which often left me defeated. However, the day I entered high school, a story I’ll be telling until the end of time, was an experience that opened a new door to this mentality. All that happened was a quick walk-by interaction between my brother and me, and about half of the Varsity football team that followed behind him as this ‘big friend group’. I was both overcome by, one, the idea of him having such a big support system, and, two, the knowledge he was in a safe social environment, despite years of battling otherwise. Since a seemingly small moment, my ambition has been to preserve that contentment and tranquility and to do that for anyone who crosses my path from that day forward. Every interaction I've had since is inspired by that day. I joined my high school’s Best Buddies chapter after that first week, an organization that stands for equality, no matter your abilities, and that forming friendships can blossom into much more for special needs students like my brother. The new, unique people I would've otherwise never connected with, educated me and changed my view on life. In the many opportunities that Best Buddies provided me with, I was given a role where I could educate those around me from my first-hand experience with my brother. My love for this organization and advocating for students with special needs came from such a small act of kindness. It is breathtaking to look back on now as I sit here as a Junior majoring in Special Education, a dream of mine since my freshman year of high school. The purity of moments like that where I knew my brother was supported and not walking around the hallways in isolation has made me the person I am today. I would never take that moment back knowing that I wouldn’t have the passion and gratitude towards such communities that I have currently. I’m hopeful my future is filled with additional gratitude, learning, and further understanding of special education. My desire for the future is to be relational. My mother endured so much to get my brother to a level of comprehensive, cognitive, and social ability, from being non-verbal at five to verbal, but masking, at twenty-three. There were endless meetings with the Special Education team at our schools. Many tears and much advocacy. I may not be my mother, but as someone going into Special Education, I want to act upon things that my brother’s team was never successful with. I hope to get to a position in special education, where I can speak with parents as if they are my mother, meet students within the Special Education program that bring me back to Best Buddies, and help students grow in the same ways that I saw my brother. Special education has a significant place in my heart, apart from a profession, and I’m hopeful my passion, experience, and drive to be in such a beautiful field will allow me to serve my duty in the most effective way possible.

Throughout much of my life, I wasn’t aware of how each person differed from the next, more specifically those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. I grew up alongside my brother, Matt, who has autism (ASD), whereby, I was often trapped by confusion of how to ‘help’ him or understand him when many couldn’t, which often left me defeated. However, the day I entered high school, a story I’ll be telling until the end of time, was an experience that opened a new door to this mentality. All that happened was a quick walk-by interaction between my brother and me, and about half of the Varsity football team that followed behind him as this ‘big friend group’. I was both overcome by, one, the idea of him having such a big support system, and, two, the knowledge he was in a safe social environment, despite years of battling otherwise. Since a seemingly small moment, my ambition has been to preserve that contentment and tranquility and to do that for anyone who crosses my path from that day forward. Every interaction I've had since is inspired by that day. I joined my high school’s Best Buddies chapter after that first week, an organization that stands for equality, no matter your abilities, and that forming friendships can blossom into much more for special needs students like my brother. The new, unique people I would've otherwise never connected with, educated me and changed my view on life. In the many opportunities that Best Buddies provided me with, I was given a role where I could educate those around me from my first-hand experience with my brother. My love for this organization and advocating for students with special needs came from such a small act of kindness. It is breathtaking to look back on now as I sit here as a Junior majoring in Special Education, a dream of mine since my freshman year of high school. The purity of moments like that where I knew my brother was supported and not walking around the hallways in isolation has made me the person I am today. I would never take that moment back knowing that I wouldn’t have the passion and gratitude towards such communities that I have currently. I’m hopeful my future is filled with additional gratitude, learning, and further understanding of special education. My desire for the future is to be relational. My mother endured so much to get my brother to a level of comprehensive, cognitive, and social ability, from being non-verbal at five to verbal, but masking, at twenty-three. There were endless meetings with the Special Education team at our schools. Many tears and much advocacy. I may not be my mother, but as someone going into Special Education, I want to act upon things that my brother’s team was never successful with. I hope to get to a position in special education, where I can speak with parents as if they are my mother, meet students within the Special Education program that bring me back to Best Buddies, and help students grow in the same ways that I saw my brother. Special education has a significant place in my heart, apart from a profession, and I’m hopeful my passion, experience, and drive to be in such a beautiful field will allow me to serve my duty in the most effective way possible.

Throughout much of my life, I wasn’t aware of how each person differed from the next, especially in terms of those who are physically or intellectually disabled like my brother who has Autism (ASD). In this, much of my life I was trapped by confusion of how to ‘help’ him or understand him when many couldn’t, which caused a lot of sadness for much of my childhood. However, the day I entered high school, a story I’ll be telling until the end of time, was an experience that opened a new door for my helpless self. All that happened was a quick walk-by interaction between my brother and I, and about half of the Varsity football team that followed behind him as this ‘big friend group’. I was both, one, overcome by the idea of him having such a big support system, and, two, knowing he was in a safe social environment, despite years battling otherwise. Then forward, my ambition has been to preserve his contentment and tranquility for as long as possible and to try to give that to as many others as I can. Every interaction I've had since has been inspired by that day. I joined my high school’s Best Buddies chapter after that first week, an organization that stands for equality, no matter your abilities, and that forming friendships can blossom into much more for special needs students like my brother. The new and unique people I would've otherwise never connected with, educated and changed my view on life. Through the many opportunities that Best Buddies provided me in high school, I was given a role where I could educate those around me from my first-hand experience with my brother. The fact that my love for this organization and advocating for special needs students and people with disabilities came from such a small act of kindness; it is abundantly breathtaking to look back on now as I sit here as a sophomore majoring in Special Education at NCSU. It is the purity of moments like that where I knew my brother was supported and not walking around the hallways alone in isolation that has made me the person and student I am today and I would never take that moment back knowing that I wouldn’t have the passion and gratitude towards such communities that I have currently. I’m hopeful my future is filled with additional gratitude, learning, and further understanding of Special Education. My desire for the future is to not be another teacher but to be relational. The sleepless nights my mother endured that got my brother to the level of comprehensive, cognitive, and social ability, getting him from being a non-verbal five-year-old to a verbal, but masking, twenty-two-year-old. The endless meetings with the Special Education team at our regional schools. The tears. The fighting. I may not be my mother, but it is my utmost duty as someone going into Special Education to act upon things that my brother’s team was never successful with. I hope to get to a position like Director of Special Education, whereby I can speak with parents as if they are my mother. Meet students within the Special Education program that bring me back to Best Buddies. Help students grow in the same ways that brought me joyful tears with my brother. Special Education has a significant place in my heart, apart from a profession, and I’m hopeful my passion, experience, relatability, and drive to be in such a beautiful field allows me to serve my duty in the most effective way possible.