I first began working with children with special needs in March of 2007. That spring, I had the chance to work as an instructional aide for a third-grader with Down syndrome. While having many years of experience working with children as a camp counselor, this was the first child with special needs that I was going to work closely with. For six weeks, I worked one-on-one with him, getting to know his learning style, and understanding how to best meet his individual needs. I found this experience to be one of the most rewarding of my life, and it was then that I began to see how much I enjoyed caring for those with special needs. Then, during my first semester of college, I heard about the BC Campus School and immediately knew I wanted to get involved. I soon became a Campus School buddy, and through this experience, my attraction to the special education field continued to grow. As a buddy, I worked with a student one-on-one, joining him for music class or enjoying free time together reading, listening to music, or doing sensory activities. Pursuing my passion for caring for students with special needs, I became group leader at a summer camp in Boston where I led a group of six boys with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome for six weeks. Every day, I brought my positive energy, patience, and consideration of each child's unique needs, ready to make each day as enjoyable for the children as possible. I also have experience as a Personal Care Assistant where I provided care and support for a young boy with special needs. Currently, I work at a private school in the Boston area for children ages 3-21 who have severe and multiple disabilities while pursuing my Master's degree in Special Education.