I am going to you about a special little 7th grader name Cody. He is classified as a special needs student. He is cognitively delayed, and has had a tremendous amount of health problems including a heart transplant. He is a young man that just wants to find some acceptance. He wanted to play football, which he can't because of health issues. I decided to take the young man under my wing and make him a manager. It has been good for Cody. He is not socially isolated anymore, and the boys on the football team accept him as one of their own. I am learning a lot from this simple jester. Making Cody feel that he is a part of something and letting him know that I keep up with his grades just as I do my football players has given him a reason to try and his grades have improved and he is giving more effort. As teachers you never know when one simple act of kindness to a student will change their life.
