When Education Knocks

After many years, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a Special Education Teacher

by David R. Otey

Many nights I watched my wife study for her nursing degree. The more she succeeded with each course of study the more I wondered about college success for me. I was near the end of eight and one-half years of working in a lamp factory at age 35. I knew I didn't belong there. It wasn't a matter of thinking I was better than anyone else. I knew because of how I constantly read children's books and made lists of colors, word categories, anything I could think of. I worked with children in church Sunday school and had good rapport with them. I found the difficult kids easy to deal with. My dream was to work in special education. I spoke of all this to my wife and she gave the supporting suggestion that I should go to college if I really wanted to. But first I had to wait for her to begin work at a job that would pay twice what I was earning then.

I filled out all the papers for grants and student loans. Some people told me to stay away from student loans. But I went for all the help I could get. Knowing I would owe somebody for something down the line, as everyone does, I might as well put it all on an education. At least I will enjoy the work I do as I pay back the loans. I attended an interview I applied for, and when they asked me why do I think I should get the particular grant they offered I spoke right up and said, " because I 've worked hard and consistently for almost nine years in a factory, proving my determination, and I deserve a chance to make my life better and do something for the community". I'm not sure those are the exact words, but I know my speech was along that line. I did say I deserved the chance and they gave me the grant.

I was concerned with being smart enough to keep up with the work load. My community college advisor said I needed to sign up for a special class. This class taught how to study text books, take tests and learn study strategies. It was a life saver. When I expressed my earlier concern of intellect I was asked if I ever read the paper, watched the news, read books, paid bills, shopped for groceries and raised kids. I said yes to all, and the advisor said I will be surprised how much my intellect has grown through real living.

I had a fear at first of the total content of all my classes being like a monster. How would I be able to blend it all together without being swallowed up by the immensity of it all. I discovered my own personal strategy from my factory work. Each class would be like a different department of the factory, and each teacher the head of that department. I simply pay attention and do the best I can with note taking. I discovered that three study techniques worked best for my learning style: memorizing the captions beneath text pictures and knowing the graphs and charts, creating my own question and answer sheet for each chapter summary,and then using verbal rehearsal (reading aloud) with the first two items. I walked circles in our east yard while talking all my notes out loud many times over. Sometimes I made a picture diagram that connected the notes somehow and read aloud from that.

I attended the community college until I got the Associate of Arts degree. Then I had to switch to a university. The greatest advice I got before the switch was to ask lots of questions because no one would lead me around. If I didn't ask then I wouldn't know. If I didn't know what to ask then I was to go to my advisor and say "what should I be asking?"

My college advisor was firm on making sure I paid attention to what I needed, in what order and how some classes could be mixed favorably. She was very important to my success and my self-confidence. She also told me I am a non-traditional student, meaning an older than usual student. I thought, great, now I'm going to be a freak. I was surprised to see a lot of non-traditional students in my classes. The higher the class level the more of them I saw. So, I was still normal after all.

Each year I had to learn more of what to do for the process of my new title-Junior, Senior. I walked like never before. I sat like never before. There were plenty of little annoying hurdles but nothing bothersome enough to override the many more pleasures of getting closer and closer to the big day. I made it to the big day after five years. In May of 1995 I graduated with a Bachelor of Special Education degree, and on May 29th, 2002 I finished my seventh year of teaching special education classes. Life is sweeter for me. I still owe money on my loans. So what. I love my work and it loves me. I'm healthier, happier and more confident, more useful with my life. Every pathway has hurdles and challenges. You might as well take the path toward becoming what your heart and dreams desire. Happy learning.