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THE NEW OLD ROOM
When I moved my Autistic class from a center to Oscar Middle
It was a brand new school…everything…was brand new…
It was the first time in our county Autistic students would be in a regular school…
and many wondered how we would do.
As I entered my brand new school and stepped into my brand new room
I was excited to show everyone how my students through their Autism could bloom.
And now…long after my time at Osceola Middle was done…
I like to think we all learned a lot…and along the way we had some fun.
Our daughter, Ali, attended Osceola Middle at the same time…it was nice to have her near
and she was one of the first students in the school to come into my class and volunteer.
Skip ahead a few years and we discover something very cool….
Ali, now a teacher, is teaching at Osceola Middle School.
Skip ahead to today and Ali has just become Osceola Middle’s behavior therapist…
And here is where Fate has provided a beautiful little twist.
The office they’ve designated for Ali is none other than my old room….
The same place I watched myself and some of my students bloom.
Of all the rooms in the school to which she could have been assigned….
They chose the one in which I left some energy and memories behind…
Starting a new job is never easy as you struggle to find your way…
and I like to think it’s the teaching Gods telling Ali everything will be okay.
As parents we can’t always be next to our children as they tackle new adventures
travel down new roads…try to scale and climb new hills
But the fact that Ali is now in my old room…
in a way…I guess I will.
Copyright ©
Jim Yerman
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