Anna Whitaker’s journey into special education is not just a career choice but a personal testimony inspired by her younger brother, Owen. Anna, a senior special education major at Clemson, credits her Experiential Learning journey to helping shape her career. Clemson has provided Anna with opportunities to connect her passion to practical skills through field placements and classroom experiences. Through her field experience, she learned the importance of tailoring her teaching strategies to individual students by incorporating students’ interests to connect on a more personal level.
Through Anna’s interactions in the classroom, she secured a job at Liberty High School working with students who are transferring out of high school into college or the workforce. Anna attributes her job success to CU ExL and the valuable training sessions that Liberty High School provided. Anna is thankful for how Clemson’s teaching program prepares future graduates for the challenges of the teaching profession. She has learned the importance of seeking support and advocating for herself and this has equipped her with the skills to handle classroom uncertainties and conflicts.
One touching interaction that made Anna thankful for this experience was with a nonverbal student who blew her a kiss and asked for a hug on her last day of teaching. Moments like these reinforce teachers’ impact on students even when they are not immediately apparent.
Anna strongly recommends CU ExL for anyone and everyone as it is a fantastic way to prepare students for their careers. Her story emphasizes the importance of compassion and understanding for special needs students and educators. There is no doubt that Anna will continue to make a lasting difference extending far beyond the classroom walls.
By: McKenna Miller
