Turning Challenges into Lifelong Missions: A Special Education Journey from Michigan to Beyond

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Ever wondered what it takes to turn personal challenges into a lifelong mission? Today, I share my journey from a small town in Michigan to a fulfilling career in special education across the country. From the struggles of job rejections and career uncertainty to the joy of making a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, especially those with autism, this episode captures the highs and lows of my path. You’ll hear about the critical moments that shaped my career, the motivation behind my dedication, and the lessons learned along the way.

Retirement isn’t the end of my story—it’s just a new chapter. I talk candidly about the emotional challenges of stepping away from a passion that has defined my life for decades. Even now, at 72, I find ways to stay connected to the educational community through part-time tutoring. This episode is filled with reflections on the importance of perseverance, the impact of special education, and the powerful connections that continue to inspire me. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation that encourages you to embrace your unique journey and find fulfillment in every stage of life.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 0 (00:00):
Hi everyone.
Today I'm going to do somethinga little different.
I'm just going to talk a littlebit about me and then kind of
give you a little bit of a goalfor yourself.
I talk about myself just everyonce in a while.
For people that may not know me, I grew up in Michigan in a
small, small little town, and at35 I moved to California and

(00:24):
during that time I went toschool and at first I didn't
know what I wanted to do, but Ijust went in and got my
certificate for sign languageand then I became an interpreter
for the deaf and I worked in apublic school.
Then later I went back and gotmy bachelor's in education and

(00:46):
to my master's in mild tomoderate special education and
then got a second master's indeaf and hard of hearing and I
worked a few years with the deafand hard of hearing both in
California and in Florida.
But I also worked with otherkids too.
I did special day classes wherethey have all kinds of

(01:08):
disabilities, and I really,through my years of experience
working with the different kidsin different types of
environment, I learned a lotabout autism and I also learned
about the kids themselves andhow great they are and how much

(01:29):
fun it can be working with themand opening up doors for them,
because they really are verysmart kids.
They just have to learn adifferent way and it may take a
little bit longer.
When I was in college and Iwasn't sure what I was going to
do at first and I got mybachelor's in education and then

(01:50):
I started going out forinterviews and the doors were
keep slamming in my face.
Nothing was opening up.
So I thought, you know, Iprayed about it and I said you
know, lord, I know this is thedirection you want to go, but
why are the doors keep slammingin my face?
And I'm not a good interviewer.
I get too nervous and I put myfoot in my mouth and it's just

(02:12):
not a pleasant thing for me.
I don't know why, but it just.
But just isn't.
It doesn't bother me muchanymore.
But when I was first going out,I was really nervous.
But anyway, the doors were keptslamming and people kept saying
well, with your background, youknow you should go into special
education.
And I kept saying no, no, no.
Well, like I said, I prayedabout it and I said okay, lord,

(02:36):
if this is what you want me todo, then you're going to have to
open the door.
I'll put the paperwork in anddo all that kind of stuff, but
you're going to have to open thedoor.
I'll put the paperwork in anddo all that kind of stuff, but
you're going to have to open thedoor.
And that's when I went back toschool and got my master's and
the doors were swinging open forme.
So I had I never had a problemgetting a job, and so that's how

(02:58):
I got into special educationand I never regretted it.
I'm glad that I did.
I've helped a lot of familiesand a lot of kids and through my
years.
And then, you know, retirementcame up and I wasn't happy with
being retired, so I kept goingback and then I'd retire again,

(03:19):
and then I'd go back again, andthen I'd retire again, and I did
that three times and then thislast time was my final time.
Matter of fact, I'm taking someof my stuff and helping a
couple teachers and giving themstuff that I've accumulated
through the years to help themwith their classrooms.
And I know that it's time, butit was really, really difficult

(03:40):
for me to face that and not beable to be in a classroom the
first summer of going back.
I was totally depressed.
I just it was really hard on methinking that I'm not going
back to work.
Some people can't wait andnever look back, but I just

(04:03):
wasn't one of them.
But I'm getting used to it nowand so I do tutor and I still
tutor, but I'm not going to doafter school anymore because I
have other family issues that Ineed to tend to.
So but I am tutoring during theday and I still have like three
students that I'll keep on,keep tutoring part time.

(04:26):
I'm 72.
And so you know it's time toenjoy my life a little bit and
my family.
But I still want to be able tohave that connection.
So I have one boy that I doevery day for three hours.
He's homeschool and he's come along way.
Matter of fact, this last weekhe read for the first time on

(04:47):
his own and his teacher said hewould never be able to do that.
And he did do it.
So that was a good thing.
His mom just told me that heexceeded all his IEP goals.
So anyway, that's a little bitabout me.
I'm from the United States ifyou're from overseas listening

(05:09):
to this and I've never beenanywhere.
I've been to Mexico and butI've never been out of out of
North America, been to Canadaand stuff all beautiful areas.
So now I want to talk a littlebit about you.
You know we're winding down tosummer and some schools have
started in some places and someschools will start next month or

(05:30):
the month after.
But we're coming down the endof summer and getting ready for
school to start again.
So what I want you to do is, inthe next few weeks, try to put
away a little bit of money.
You know whatever you canafford I know money's tight for
all of us right now withgroceries.
You know whatever you canafford I know money's tight for

(05:52):
all of us right now withgroceries but try to do
something, um, where you can puta little bit of money away for
yourself and then plan, even ifit's just a day or 24 hours or
whatever, and do something foryourself.
I know you've been probablyvery busy with the kids home
from school and you knowvacations and barbecues and

(06:14):
picnics and birthdays andweddings and on and on and on.
You're ready for fall to comeor school to start back up next
month and get back into more ofa routine and then that summer
can be very busy for us routine,and then that summer can be
very busy for us.
So, but plan a day for yourselfthat you go get your hair done

(06:34):
or go get your nails done orhave lunch with a friend, or
just have lunch by yourself, orgo to the library and sit and
read a, read a book, or dosomething like that.
If you don't have a lot ofmoney, you can, you know, go buy
a cup of coffee, go read a bookand just relax and not think
about family, home, work oranything, just you, and relax

(07:01):
and breathe and give yourselfthat little bit of time.
I know that your soul andspirit and your body will
appreciate it, that your souland spirit and your body will
appreciate it.
So, anyway, that's all I havefor today.
It was just a little bit aboutme and a little bit about you,
and I really, really hope youtake my advice and spend a

(07:21):
little time on you.
You deserve it.
Have a great day and I willtalk to you real soon.
Bye-bye.