Was I Good Enough? by Elia

Was I Good Enough? by Elia - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

I feel like one of my greatest academic achievements was when I got out of my special education program. Back when I was in first grade, my teacher had a hard time with me. I refused to stay still, didn’t have a long attention span, and lessons didn’t click like they were suppose to. One day during parent teacher conferences, my teacher told this to my parents and said she believed I had ADHD. She also said she thought it best to put me on the prescription drugs for this syndrome so I could be calm in class. But my parents flat out refused. Instead I was put in special classes. I don’t know if it was exactly special education for kids with disabilities, especially since I was never officially tested for ADHD. I would spend some time in my normal classes in the morning, then go to room with a few other kids and be taught by a women from the program, then attend afternoon classes back in the classroom. In fact it was because of this program that I had extended time in TCAP (then called CSAP) up until the 7th grade.

When I entered 8th grade, it’s almost as if something clicked. I started doing better in my classes even making in onto the honor roll. It became easier for me to pay attention, I no longer needed extended time on CSAP. I was even attending regular classes full time. The only time I wasn’t in regular classes was when I was pulled out in order to be tested. Finally, in the spring of 8th grade I was told I no longer needed the program.

Getting out of the program was a big confidence boost. As a little kid I didn’t really understand why I had to take the special class but when I got older I felt like I was a dumb student because of it. I would think, if I’m in this program then not as smart as everyone else. I’ve come to terms that it was for my own good but back then I didn’t know any better. So when my teachers told me I no longer needed the program it was like they were also saying that I was now good enough. My confidence increased and since then I have been striving to get better in whatever it is I do.