I can’t wait to find out!
By Jeff Lamkins, Social Studies Teacher, Laraway School
Individualized Program
In February 2018, I was new to Vermont and looking for a job
similar to what I have done in the past, which was teaching high school and
middle school. I came across an ad that seemed to be tailor-made for me.
Shortly after applying for the Social Studies position at Laraway Youth and
Family Services, I was lucky enough to hear back, and they asked me to come in
for a visit to see the campus, and get to meet some students and staff. I was
very excited and looking forward to coming in.
My first day at Laraway was quite memorable, as it was the day we
were holding Laralympics! The students and staff piled into what seemed like a
convoy of vans, and headed to a nearby snow-covered series of hills. Teams
sporting different countries’ flags competed in a variety of events such as
bobsledding, skiing, and other winter sports. I looked a little out of place
wearing my long black leather coat, looking more like a city slicker than an
outdoorsman. Regardless, all of the students and staff made me feel like a part
of the family. I would be tempted to say that they went out of their way
to make me feel welcome, but in fact they were all just being themselves.
“This is who they are,” I thought to myself. They are genuinely
warm and loving people who bond together to help the students reach their full
potential. Yup, this is the place I need to be!
Fast forward to the present day: I am approaching my first full
year here at Laraway, and I can honestly say that this is the most rewarding
job I have ever had. I am here to teach students, and I try to do that to the
best of my ability, but I learn as much from them (maybe more) then I teach
them. The students at Laraway have shown me how to overcome obstacles, pressing
on toward their goals of building themselves through academic success, even
though they have moments when that may be the last thing they want to do. But
they do it anyway, and they do it well!
In the short year I have been here, I have seen tremendous growth
in students. Some make unbelievable advances in their social skills and
interactions with others. Some serve the local community in charitable work.
Some have jobs out in the community, and some have moved on to public school
settings using Laraway as the launching pad to the rest of their lives. But
ALL, and I mean ALL of the students at Laraway are better today than they were
yesterday, and tomorrow that will happen again.
They are strong, very strong, always moving forward toward their personal
goals. And although they will have struggles, their struggles will not have
them. There is power in that, real personal power. And that lesson that they
have taught me is more valuable than anything I could ever teach them. How many
schools can say that about their teenagers?
My grandfather once said to me, “If you love your job, you’ll
never work a day in your whole life.” I know what he means now. Thank you,
Laraway. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being a member of your
family. What wonderful discoveries will I see at this amazing place in my
second year? I can’t wait to find out!
