Single Parent to Graduate Student Enrolling in Northcentral University, NCU to obtain my graduate degree in education is one of accomplishment and a new beginning to a new career. I have always had a passion for indifference, injustice, and making a difference. I have an associate’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in Human and Family Services. I went from having a degree in computer science to a human service degree because of a family tragedy that made me evaluate my purpose in life as an individual. I am currently a case manager with a mental health/mental retardation organization and a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer. The population that I serve ranges s from childhood to adulthood and covers a broad …show more content…
I have worked in the MH/MR field for about thirty years. I intend to complete my degree in education with a specialization in special education and seek opportunities in areas of research particularly within RTI (Response to Intervention) with a concentration on the urban school setting. I cannot say that it was one event or situation that led me to want a career in special education but a series of life events that eventually brought me to NCU. I specifically choose Northcentral University after carefully reviewing several other colleges but was drawn back to NCU because of their mission, vision and values, academics and the teacher to student ratio. I was also very impressed with Dr. Lisa St. Louis welcome video; it was warm and shows that she genuinely cares about the students. My personal and professional vision and where I see myself in five years is that by 7/2019 I will have completed my graduate studies and gained the knowledge that is required to seek opportunities that advocate and address current policies, procedures, and laws within the special education field. The first step would be to create a journal that would list the goals and several options to reach each goal. One of the goals would include volunteering within an organization, particularly the national education association or my local school