I was blessed during my residential placement to have the opportunity to experience my 9th grade year in a high school twice the size of my home high school.

I really appreciated the administrative system of this district as the principal that was assigned to a grade level followed the class through their high school journey.

Ms. Gardner made me feel very welcome as a guest in the school where I learned of many useful accommodations that were successful.

When time came for discharge from the residential facility to home, being that the school was connected to my hometown via a 4 lane expressway, I was blessed to be allowed to complete my 9th grade year at this high school as it prepared me for my home high school that was only grades 10-12.

As my parents and I were in fear of being able to have a successful high school career back home, Ms. Gardner told my mom that “there should be no reason why my home district couldn’t provide the same accommodations as her school had.”

It was the building block that set my next destination of my educational journey to be quite successful. There were no issues in her school and there were minor issues in my home district.

To some degree I have always owed a deep gratitude for Ms. Gardner for paving the path for my success in high school.