Important Life Decision!

The other night, I was sitting on my friend Kellie's bed watching a video that my mom posted on Facebook. It's a long video (about 10 minutes), so I don't really expect anyone to watch it, but I'll give you a quick summary. It's about this amazing science teacher. He had a son and was really excited to watch him grow up and go to his sports games etc. He then found out that his son had Joubert Syndrome (very rare). If you don't know what that is, look it up. The internet can probably explain it better than I can.

At first, he had a hard time grasping this. It's tough for a parent to find out that their child is not "normal." Anyways, he didn't think that his son could play or communicate like other children until he walked in on his daughter and son playing together. The family then started teaching Adam (his son) basic sign language.

The feeling that I got when I heard Mr.Wright talk about the first time Adam sign "Daddy I love you" was incredible. I was bawling like a baby. I cried for a good half hour and I couldn't really figure out what had done it. Why was I crying like a baby? I've seen children do amazing, miraculous things in my mom's classroom since I was twelve years old.

Then I realized it...This is what I want to do with my life. I know that it's a big decision, and it doesn't usually happen like that...but it did to me.
I've spent time working with kids with intellectual disabilities since I was in elementary school. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging in those classrooms. Apparently, it didn't shock a lot of people. Everyone knew it was coming, yadayadayada, etc.

Basically, the point of my story is that I have something to work towards now. I want to be a speech pathologist for kids with severe and profound disabilities. I want to watch children that some believed incapable of communication and "normal" behavior prosper. I want to see them take the leaps that allow them to communicate with their parents, siblings, teachers, etc. It feels right. I don't know if I've ever felt more sure of almost anything else in my life. So that's that.

Here's the link to the video if you want to watch.

My Life in a Few Sentences

Soo...I haven't blogged in several months. Life gets busy. But most people know about the important stuff that has happened to me.

I went to North Carolina for a week, which was fantastic, excluding the fact that I didn't get a chance to see everyone that I wanted to. (I still love you all).

I went to the Presidential Inauguration, which was pretty phenomenal. It was cold, but amazing and completely worth it. I also went to the GWU Inaugural Ball, which was great because I spent it with some of my best friends.

That's the last month wrapped in a few sentences. I'm currently in Astronomy class, so I'm not going to write a novel. I miss you all and wish you would respond to my letters :P