The summer months provide students with the time to explore research opportunities, internships and activities that deepen their knowledge and allow them to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios.
Mikayla Suggs is a rising junior studying special education. She has spent her summer working with Pattinson’s Academy, which is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with severe disabilities. Mikayla worked as a counselor at the summer camp which provides the opportunity for students diagnosed with severe special needs to break boundaries and experience the fullness of summer.
Mikayla loved working one-on-one with students and building relationships with them. She is an advocate for others and likes that Pattinson’s Academy shows the world how capable students with disabilities are.
This experience provided Mikayla with insight to many kinds of students and strengthened her empathy toward others. She has learned several techniques to implement in her future classroom.
When asked what she enjoyed most about working at Pattinson’s Academy this summer, Mikayla said, “Getting to interact with students on a deeper level has been my favorite part of camp! These kids have changed my life and I will never forget them.”
