Congratulations Max on graduating!
What a year this has been. A year Max will never forget, and
I will never forget. A year he finally can say I have graduated from High
school. Max did walk with his graduating class in 2018, but he did not receive
his diploma because he was short two required classes. Why was he short? Because
he wanted to take seminary and a class for students who live with Autism. In
our school district it is called S.P.I.C.E. (Social, Pragmatics, Independence, Communication, and
Emotional Regulation) For children with autism spectrum and related disorders
with more intensive needs, self-contained classes are offered at the preschool, elementary and secondary
level. Max felt a need that he needed to be in Spice, and it gave him insight
of how to cope with everyday school routine. I am appreciative to his teachers,
speech therapist, counselors, swim coach and many others that helped guide him
through his journey of high school.
Max is now taking the step into adulthood. He is now twenty
and out of high school as of today. As his mother it has been a hard pill to swallow
knowing my youngest is finished with high school.
What is next for Max with this corona virus blocking his opportunities
to succeed and develop skills? Here we are living a life of social distancing
which by the way, Max loves because it lets him live in his own bubble. It defeats
his opportunities to expand his social life that is valuable for him and anyone
else who lives with autism.
My husband and I were told he would never get above third grade in education, well, I'm happy to report he got a high school diploma like all the other students. He even had all A's and took algebra and geometry. He took all the require classes all the other students had to take. Yes, he had to work hard to accomplish each class, but he did it. He showed those child psychologist that he saw when he was young that he can learn above third grade level. Now he wants to attend college and be an accountant CPA like his Dad.
He has found a new way of spending his day by caring for his
chickens and chicks. By working in his garden and attending to its every need.
Daily he holds his chicks and chickens and checks their food and water. He has developed
a love for the outdoors beyond being in the pool.
He misses his swimming and desires to feel the water around
him. Max says he feels peaceful when he is swimming and is anxious to be back in
the water.
Congratulations Max on graduating from High school. Yes, you
walked with the graduating class of 2018, but you graduated with the class of
2020!!!
