Let's start from the very beginning... a very good place to start.

Everyone who has ever been a child in some sort of group setting, whether it be a classroom or a junior rec soccer team is familiar with the phrase: "that one kid." Now, that phrase can fit into a variety of networks. 

There's that one kid with all the money.
That one kid standing behind the tree, peeing on the fence at a Pee Wee game (no pun intended, well maybe a little.) 
That one kid that smells weird. All the time. Even worse after recess.
That one kid who is so obnoxiously brilliant that could enroll at GA Tech or MIT at the age of nine. 
That one kid that picks his nose and eats his findings. 
That one kid that speaks with a lisp.
That one kid in band.
That one kid with curly hair and glasses.
That one kid who can make A's without studying.
That one kid with asthma.
That one kid with the chocolate Snak-Pak pudding in their lunch (I always hated that kid).

We've all been "that one kid" of some shape or form at some time or another. 

For me, I was that one kid that read far too many books, excelled in any subject that required reading and writing, was terrified of math (still am), had the attention span of..., and I loved being creative. I guess people call that being artsy or a hipster. I called it being me. Maddie. That One Kid.

Now that I'm nearing the end of my college career, I've grown up to be That One Adult. 

I am pursuing my Bachelor's Degree in Special Education. Working with entire classrooms of students who have been labeled as "That One Kid" 

- That One Kid who can't read
- That One Kid who wears a hearing aid and uses sign language
- That One Kid who has seizures in class.
- That One Kid who talks with a speech impediment
- That One Kid who is confined to a wheelchair
- That One Kid who is in high school and has the mental abilities of an infant
- That One Kid who faints at the sight of a test
- That One Kid who can't talk
- That One Kid who looks distinctively different because they have a genetic abnormality
- That One Kid who is fascinated with trains and knows everything about them
- That One Kid who has the IQ of Einstein but has no way to verbally express that
- That One Kid who is different from all his peers

I want to be THAT ONE TEACHER with THAT ONE CLASSROOM that takes ALL THOSE KIDS and puts them in an environment where they can be THAT ONE KID who works harder than he thought he ever could. THAT ONE KID who overcame incredible odds and became the most successful in the class. THAT ONE KID who had Miss Maddie as a teacher and whose outlook on life has changed from negative to positive.

Yes, I am still THAT ONE KID. But hey, if that's what it takes, so shall it be.