This month’s Guest Blogger is Jeanelle Borys. Jeanelle has worked at Mary Cariola for 10.5 years. Her career has spanned from classrooms to residential homes. She has worked as at Teacher Aide II, Direct Support Professional, a Teaching Assistant, and is currently studying Special Education at Roberts Wesleyan University.
Adrienne and Jeanelle are happy to be learning together.
Have you ever been asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I know I have and up until a couple of years ago I couldn’t tell you. The only thing I knew was I loved my job, and I was happy where I was in my Mary Cariola career.
In the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, I was placed in the classroom of veteran teacher, Kathy Lee. I started the year nervous because Kathy has been teaching for decades and knows how to bring out the best in all her students. That year she took me under her wing and showed me how to really run a classroom and run it well. Thanks to Kathy, I went through the process to become a Teacher Assistant and when I passed the test, boy was I thrilled! I was so terrified to take that test because I had not taken any real tests in 20 years.
Fast forward to this school year, during our October conference day. School Superintendent Christine Sheffer asked me, “So when are you going to school to become a teacher?” I told her “Soon” because my daughter was getting older and becoming more independent. Later that same day, I received a text message from Lisa, the Director of Recruiting from Roberts Wesleyan University. She asked me if I was ready to start my education for teaching. That very night I applied for Roberts Associate Program. When two people from two separate places ask you the same question on the same day, it is a no brainer to take that leap of faith and start an awesome but terrifying journey.
I had only completed a few college classes in the past because I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. One thing I did know was I loved my job and the students that I serve.
I have been in school full time since January, while working full time as the teacher in my classroom.
Is it tough? Yes, but it is so worth it because I have my whole future ahead of me. If you would have asked me where I would be five years ago, I would have never thought I would say I would be in a Teaching position. I have to say thank you to Kathy Lee for pushing me and helping me be the person I am today.
I have been through a lot in my life and by far the past ten years working for Mary Cariola has been the best of them. Mary Cariola has taught me so much about advocating for the students that we serve, and it has also helped me in my personal life. My daughter has ADHD and has needed a ton of support and thanks to my Mary Cariola experiences, I was familiar with resources that could benefit her.
I go to work every day knowing that our students are all precious and so deserving of being typical teenagers. I love it when one of my students says shenanigans when I talk about coffee or when a different student is learning how to use the gait trainer to enhance mobility. I cannot say enough about how amazing our students are, I see it every day and I am truly blessed to work at such an amazing place. I see compassion, courage, and strength every day when I go to work, not just from staff but from the students as well. For me, returning to school is worth the long nights because when it comes down to it, I know this is where I am supposed to be.
I leave you with this thought… if you have ever been afraid to take that leap of faith, just take it!
(Editor’s Note: Mary Cariola’s Grow Our Own scholarship program provides our staff with professional growth and development opportunities for advancing their careers in the Special Education field. Your support of the Grow Our Own Program enables Mary Cariola to further develop and retain the brightest in the field, providing consistent and innovative knowledge to our students and residents. You can support the Grow Our Own Program by donating HERE.)
