The Only Disability in Life is a Bad Attitude

It's hard to believe that in just a month and a half I will be on my way to Jamaica.  I am getting both excited and nervous.  When I first applied for the Pannell Scholarship last school year it felt like December 2014 was so far away, well now it is already November 14th, 2014.  

For those of you who do not know, I have been lucky enough to receive a Anne Gary Pannell Merit Scholarship.  The Pannell scholarships are awarded to sophomores at Sweet Briar College in the honors program.  Here is a link for more information (Anne Gary Pannell Merit Scholarship).  I applied for the scholarship my freshman year at Sweet Briar and wrote a proposal.  

For my project I will travel to Jamaica with Projects-Abroad. (More information on Projects-Abroad) I will be a part of their volunteer care work and more specifically the special education program.  As a part of this program I will be able to volunteer my time to children and adults with special needs.  I will learn about different views the country places on people with disabilities, the way disabled people are treated, and the care that people with special needs receive.  I will be able to take what I have learned in Jamaica and compare the treatment of individuals with special needs and the care they are given in Jamaica to the care individuals with special needs are given in America. 

Background
As many of you already know ever since I was much younger I have wanted to be a teacher, and now, more so than ever, I want to be a special education teacher.  This will be a perfect opportunity to gain experience in a special education setting.  

Through this volunteer experience I feel as though I can be a part of something bigger.  I can help the children and adults who need it the most.  Many of the children have difficult lives aside from their disabilities. Modern day Jamaica is affected by many social problems.  And, while I cannot make a huge impact on the country of Jamaica as a whole, I hope to make an impact on at least one individual’s life. 

Preparation

Through my experiences I have learned a lot about the care that is given in America to people with special needs.  However, I am interested to see what the care in other countries would be for disabled people.  In Jamaica I will be able to learn about the different ways special needs are handled.  I have only the perspective from American educational systems and I am sure that while there will be many similarities between the two systems, there will also be many differences. 

While in Jamaica I will be placed in a school that is specifically for special needs children.  I will assist in activities that will improve their lives.  Whether that is academically or socially.  I will be able to play games with the children as well as teach them academics.  I wills also be able to care for their everyday needs such as feeding and bathing.  These are just a few of the many responsibilities I will have.  

           

I will be departing on December 28th, 2014 and returning January 10th, 2015.  I am looking forward to the two weeks I get to spend in Jamaica.

Here is my current timeline:

Time Frame	Event
December 28th	Depart for Montego Bay, Jamaica Arrive in Montego Bay, Jamaica where I will be greeted by a staff member
December 28th-January 10th	Volunteer in Jamaica with the special needs program Document each day with things I have learned, interesting stories, anything that made an impact on me—whether it is as small as a hug from a child or as big as helping someone learn to write their name
January 10th	Depart for BWI airport Baltimore, MD
April 2015	Share my experience at the Pannell Honors Scholars Fair