My inspiration for special education started with watching my mom in her classroom. I had the opportunity to volunteer and visit her classroom several times during my teenage years and saw the care and compassion needed to work with students with special needs. My mom was only a teaching assistant, but I was able to observe the connection she created with her students and how vital her role was. Not knowing yet what my future held I initially began pursing social work with a focus on becoming a school social worker. I felt that in that role I would be able to still work with students while also contributing to the community building a bridge between the two. Upon completion of my internship and degree from NC State in 2014 my focus shifted. As much as I enjoyed the social worker role and valued the importance within the school system, I knew I wanted to have a larger role with the students. During this time, I also became a mother to my first child so instead of pursuing a career I began substitute teaching. Talk about an eye-opening experience! Having the chance to work in different schools, classrooms, and academic levels solidified where my career needed to go. Special education is extremely broad in what that entails, using the knowledge gained while substituting I was able to see where I would fit into that spectrum. Speaking of spectrum, elementary students with autism is where I consistently found myself working. At the time the classrooms were called AU "1 or 2", I ended up completing two separate long-term positions for these specific classrooms. After two years one of the schools finally convinced me to take a teaching assistant position in their AU 1 classroom. I hesitated because it felt like my degree would be going to waste but I knew that I would not be as happy in those roles as being in the classroom. Was it challenging some days, absolutely but to create relationships, see growth, and change made it all worth it. The teacher I worked for changed while I was there, and not only did I know what room I would want to teach in I was able to witness the type of teacher I would want to be. When asked if our students would be attending any events, they hadn't been to previously she stated, "Our students can do everything any other student can, we just have to do it a little differently". I have stood by that statement every day since then. Our students thrived, and I saw how much of a difference we as educators could make. Life though can lead you down different paths. After having my second child, I again put my career aspirations on hold to put my children first. Now it is my time to see my dreams and goals fulfilled. I have returned to a self-contained classroom next to my previous lead teacher, with administration who are fully supportive of "growing teachers". My goal is to complete a master's program in special education and use my knowledge, experience, and education to create a successful elementary ECS classroom of my own.