Working at College Living Experience has fed my passion for helping students with learning disabilities, Asperger’s and ADD learn to verbalize what they need and discover how to accomplish their goals.
I teach students not to give up when they encounter obstacles, but instead to find solutions. I also help students identify barriers to their own success, teach them to deal with those issues and watch them gain the confidence to achieve their social, academic and independence goals.
Oftentimes, our students have never been given the time or the patient support to do things on their own. Others get frustrated with their pace, but I take the time to help my students learn how to do things themselves. It may take a while, but I will stay by their sides until it happens.
Academic Advocate
I view my role at CLE as a strong advocate for college students with special learning needs. I also want to teach them how to be their own advocates when they get out into the world and transition into adulthood. If I can provide them with the right encouragement and positive reinforcement, our students realize they can accomplish their social, academic and independence goals.
One of my students was told he would never pass Spanish class. His professor told him he would have to switch to a major without a foreign language requirement to graduate. But we both knew that switching majors was not the answer. Instead, we worked together all semester and he earned the highest grade in the entire class.