My Friend Nathan

I have this new little friend named Nathan (name has been changed). I've been working with him for about three weeks now. He is a 4th grader with some serious anger management problems, but I absolutely adore him.

I needed to work with a child with disabilities for my last class at BYU. I was assigned to Nathan. He has an aide during the middle part of the day, so I come in the morning and afternoon. I am very sad, however, because tomorrow is my last day with him.

One of the things that breaks my heart the most is the low expectations everyone seems to have of him. Here are some things I've heard from his teachers:
-I don't even like him
-He's at the top of my list for kids that I'll be looking up in ten years to see if they have a criminal record
-I wouldn't be surprised if he were at the Point of the Mountain by the age of 25
-He won't make it through middle school
-We're just waiting for one big blow-up that will take him out of the school
-He doesn't belong in this school

It almost makes me cry just writing them. His aide is quitting. A week from tomorrow will be her last day. I found out today and was offered a job as her replacement, as apparently he responds to me better than anyone else. The only problem is that I start student teaching on Monday. While I could be assigned to their school, his class goes off track a week after I start, which would be completely counterintuitive to the student teaching experience.

I considered deferring my student teaching until next semester, but then thought of a much better solution! We pulled in the facilitator (the lady that goes between me and BYU) and found that my teachers tracking might just work for second block. They are going to try and pull some strings to get me in Nathan's classroom. Then, regardless of whether or not he gets another aide, I will be in the classroom too. I can spend more recesses swinging with him or playing four square with him. I even look forward to eating lunch with him and discussing his latest exploits on his new bike or the latest treasure he earned in resource.

Hopefully, after graduation I will be able to serve as his aide, either volunteer or paid. I just want to be with this sweet little boy and be one person in his life that loves him.