Its 7pm Friday, Its 85 degrees. I don't have more classes and these classes don't have me: Contribution to my learning community and farewell to ADL

Taking this class honestly happened during one of the most stressful seasons I have had in a long time. At work, everything seemed to hit at once. Working in special education already comes with a high level of responsibility because students, families, and staff rely on you to make sure things are done correctly and on time. During this course, I felt like I was constantly being pulled in ten different directions while also trying to balance school, work, and life outside of both. Eventually, the stress started affecting me physically, and I ended up getting the flu and pneumonia! Looking back now, I realize my body was basically forcing me to slow down because I had been running on empty for too long.

Even with everything happening, I still wanted to do well in this course because the content connected to things I genuinely care about professionally. There were definitely moments where I felt overwhelmed and questioned if I could keep up with everything. Some days I was trying to complete assignments while exhausted, coughing nonstop, or recovering from long workdays that emotionally drained me. What helped me push through was having support from classmates who understood exactly what this program feels like while balancing full time careers and personal responsibilities.

One of the biggest support systems during this course was our GroupMe chat with several classmates. That group became a survival tool at times. It gave us a space where we could ask questions, vent frustrations, clarify assignments, and support each other without judgment. Sometimes all it took was someone saying, “I’m confused too,” to make you feel less alone. Other times we would share ideas, resources, examples, or encouragement when someone felt stuck or defeated. I appreciated that the conversations were real and honest. It was not just people pretending everything was perfect. We talked about the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of balancing graduate school with careers, families, and everyday life.

One specific example that stood out to me happened when I shared part of my course project and asked for feedback. Portia told me that while my overall idea was strong, it felt like there was a lack of resources included for teachers and families who would actually be implementing the strategies. They explained that from a teacher perspective, people often feel overwhelmed when they are introduced to something new without enough practical tools or examples to help them get started. At first, I felt slightly defensive because I had spent a lot of time building the project, but after thinking about it, I realized they were right. I had focused heavily on the vision and goals of the project but had not fully developed enough accessible resources and supports for the people expected to carry it out.

That feedback ended up helping me improve my work significantly. I started adding more examples, supports, and practical resources that would make implementation feel more realistic and manageable. More importantly, it reminded me how valuable collaboration truly is. Sometimes when you are overwhelmed or stressed, you can develop tunnel vision and miss important perspectives. Having classmates who were willing to be honest while still being supportive made a huge difference for me throughout this course. If i had to grade myself based on my course participation i would give myself an 87. Although there was room for improvement and more communication with classmates. Overall, i do think i met the standard that was expected.

This class challenged me academically, mentally, emotionally, and even physically. At the same time, it also reminded me that growth does not happen in isolation. Even during one of the hardest seasons I have experienced professionally and personally, I learned the importance of leaning on others, accepting constructive feedback, and giving myself grace while navigating difficult circumstances.