Speech

Christina Malcomlm 04/9/14

It all started in elementary at P.S. 160 in the Bronx. I was in regular all regular classes. As a little kid I was very hyper, loud, and couldn’t stay in one place. My teacher couldn’t deal with my behavior. After several meetings with my teacher, I was placed in “Special Education” classes.

This was the beginning of my misery. I found out special education was a much smaller class with two teachers and the work is much easier. But the kind of special education class that I was put into was filled with kids who were mentally retarted, in wheelchairs, or using walkers. That’s when I realized I have been labeled as “disabled”.

My family and I moved to Rockland and my school records from the Bronx followed me. I was placed in self-contained classes with twelve other students from the third grade to the eighth grade. Even in middle school I felt like I was in elementary school because I was in one class for the whole day, with the same classmates and teacher. I had no opportunity to mix with other students. I was constantly being physically and verbally bullied because I was in special education. There was nothing I could do, “I have been labeled”.

My parents decided to send me to learning program called Kumon. At Kumon I was able to learn all the things I should have been learning in school. After three years at Kumon my math and reading skills improved. I got out of special education my tenth grade year completely. My family was so proud of my accomplishments. I was also proud. Now I’m in my final year at Spring Valley High school heading off to college, on my way to success.

I know I can’t change the past but I can change the future. I will not allow my past to define me. My experience has made me tougher. I’ve joined the track team, and made friends who love me for who I am. Things I was too shy to do in the...