I (24F) work with the special needs program at a middle school. I love my job. I love my kids. I love the connections I make and the support and love I get to provide. I even enjoy my bosses. I can’t afford to continue working here.
I work full time, 5 days a week. I teach, both make and modify assignments, manage behaviors and deescalate violent situations, change diapers, help with toileting, operate lifts, respond to and document seizures, administer medication, and in many many other ways provide just general accommodations to students with physical, intellectual, and behavioral disabilities. I am passionate about accessibility, and LOVE being able to provide the support these kids deserve, that myself and my peers never received in school.
I made less than $15,000 last year. My rent alone is $1300 a month, and that’s after my landlord lowered it recently. This is my last year, and I’ll probably be going back to waiting table/bartending because as much as I want to stay, I can’t afford to. I’m struggling as is, and can’t manage to save any money from my paychecks. My cat got hurt a few months back and I had to start a gofundme and take out a credit card to pay for his surgery.
I started streaming a while back, in part, hoping to supplement my income enough to be able to stay. That was of course optimistic and I know those things take time, more time than I have.
But as we get closer to the end of the year it becomes more real and more painful. I love these kids. I’m going to miss them so much.
Thank god I live in the GREATEST country on Earth, where I have the OPPORTUNITY and the FREEDOM to choose between working in education while starving or working in the service industry relying on the “generosity” of the general public. God Bless the USA.