During my junior year of high school I did a project called junior exhibition (which was a requirement to pass), and I had to research a career, write a five+ page paper, create resumes and fill out job applications and then preset my speech to a panel of teachers, volunteers etc. who were to give me a score from 1-6, and students who got 6/6 were permitted to join the internship program. My topic for junior exhibition was teaching special education and I scored a 6/6, entered the internship program, and started interning at The Arc of San Diego during my Senior year. I had only turned sixteen at that time, and by the end of my internship I had barely turned seventeen (you have to be eighteen to work at the facility) and had to leave because I moved to LA for a brief period of time. The week I turned eighteen I went back to Arc and was given a paid position as a job coach. I’ve been working at The Arc ever since. So for a total I’ve been in this field for nearly four in a half years!
I am going to school for it. I’m majoring in Child Development with an emphasis on Early Intervention/Special Education. I have worked with adults and senior with disabilities but have been dying to work with children with disabilities- so that’s my next step.