Timeline

My school experience has mostly been brutal and awful, to be quite honest. I have experienced challenges in the learning environment that the school system seemed unwilling to or unable to address often. I am what most would call an unorthodox learner. This pattern of learning showed up very early on, as early as 1st grade. I don’t recall ever having a moment where school seemed easy. I saw classmates who enjoyed and did well in the same classes I took. It was never that experience for me. It often seemed that being a boy in school was harder. There seemed less tolerance, sometimes even aggression to the energy I brought as a boy in class.

In 3rd grade I recall the beginning of bullying in school. It was a time where kids seemed to start to develop their own attitudes and ideas. The cliques began developing and I did not fare very well in this environment. During the 2nd half of 3rd grade, I broke my leg; actually breaking it on my birthday- April 15th. I remember being glad that I had broken my leg, because of all of the care and positive attention that I got from my classmates after that. I changed schools in 4th grade and it gave me a little break, because sometimes it’s easier being the new kid in the class. 4-6th grades were pretty much the same. I had teachers who started off with me strong, but wearied and seemed to lose their commitment as the year progressed. Later on in my education I would come to know that I probably should have had an IEP much earlier in my educational path than when it was implemented; an IEP in 2nd or 3rd grade as opposed to 7th/8th grade.

By 8th grade, the support system and environment for my education was failing me more and more. It was the decision of the school administration to place me in a correctional education environment. The school was called CLC. The intent of the school was to provide a last chance environment for children at risk for juvenile delinquency, dropping out, and criminal tendencies and incarceration. This was not the right place for me. I feel like this environment did permanent damage to my psyche, and sense of self-worth. I only spent one semester there... but that was more than enough.

I returned to the regular school system for 9th grade. Dakota Ridge High School was a massive school and posed a whole new set of personal and educational challenges. I was only at DRHS for a year and a half, but it was made very clear to me that the standard “brick and mortar” school environment was not for me. I was having challenges integrating into the student body, schoolwork posed its ongoing difficulties, and I was getting lost in all of it. It was coming to the point where I was going to either leave the school system entirely or find a radical new solution.

I am grateful that the radical solution presented itself in the form of the Homebound Instruction Program (HIP). The HIP program was only intended to support core educational classes for a temporary period. But we were able to work with the program administration, HS counselors, and academic advisors to expand the scope of the instruction to meet all of my curricular needs. I cannot express more deeply how important the mentorship of my Tutor, Eric, was in the trajectory toward my graduation.

Positive Influences and Role Models

Schools are complex environments. They are rich with many types of influences and experiences; some positive and some negative. I have had a few positive influences and one person in particular that I would consider a role model.

My high school counselor, Ms. Trefz was a positive influence. She has been along with me for a very long time on my journey through school. She saw me at CLC and decided not to sign me off as a bad kid. She was able to see me and help me find ways to express myself.

My academic counselor, Nile Smith helped understand that life is to be experienced; that it’s not all so serious; to relax and enjoy myself. He has been tremendously supportive in helping me sculpt the academic curriculum that I needed in order to achieve my diploma. He was instrumental in supporting my path to graduation.

My Teacher, April Bell worked on my IEP and was very supportive in the administration of my resources needs.

My Teacher, Ms Andrade helped me significantly during my 9th grade year. She always believed in me and didn’t put up with any of my BS.

My HIP Tutor; Eric Smith. It is hard to put into words how influential my time with him has been. He, of all, I would consider beyond a positive influence. I would call him a role model. He has given me the space to express my educational desires from a place of my choosing. Prior to Eric, I had considered dropping out as a very real possibility. After my 2 ½ years, I now am going to graduate and want to continue to advanced education. He helped me in many ways and I consider him to be a friend, not just an instructor.

Education is not an affair of 'telling' and being told, but an active and constructive process.-John Dewey-

Different Learning Structures

Not everybody learns the same way. Not everybody needs the same things to achieve.  For some people a classroom is the most appropriate setting for learning. For some people an open, experience-based environment works better. Some people need more support, some people need less support.

In my education there were things I could have used sooner to support my growth as a student.

       I could have used an 504 or an IEP in 2nd grade when my challenges first began presenting themselves.

       I could have used greater understanding that I was not a “typical” learner; that different strategies were needed. That my perceived behavioral issues were not the problem of bad attitude.

My situation is not unique. There are many more out there like me. They need alternate resources, understanding, the willingness of teachers and leadership to be creative with the approach to their education.

Advice for Teachers, Administrators, and Future Students

In this forum for advice, I would say that I don’t blame my teachers for not being equipped to handle my predicament. I would ask them to be open and available in understanding that sometimes the “delinquent” in your class is just a student suffering, and trying to succeed.

For students, I would say don’t give up. Speak up for yourself. Keep trying and let people know what you want. Sometimes teachers need to hear what you need from YOUR voice.

For administrators, listen to your staff and students. Everything grows from the bottom up, not the top down.

COVID-19 Thoughts and Afterthoughts

Crazy!!! This pandemic has thrown the entire planet around. It has turned many of our institutions upside down. In school, many have found out they are ill equipped to handle a dynamic education environment, where “brick and mortar” classrooms are not available. Students have found that they don’t have the personal resources necessary to educate themselves in this environment.

For me, this “brave new world” has not been that great a change. I was already remote; already engaged online; already self-directing my learning.

Hopefully this pandemic has brought even further to light the need for resources to assist students in times of crisis, students with alternative educational needs, and students with creative educational intentions.

School and Me

In conclusion, and even after all of the upside and downside experiences I’ve had, I say that education is the most crucial thing that anyone can engage in. Without education you are pretty much doomed to a life of struggle, pain, and confusion. If you fail to educate yourself you’ll ensure that you fail. School has been hard for me. But that hasn’t stopped me from trying, and pushing forward to learn and develop. Even though I don’t agree with the way schools are being run, I think it is important to continue to apply yourself in the environment you are in, or push like hell to get yourself into the environment that you want to be in.