2002 with Timothy Songer

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Growth
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Growth

SCSDB

As 2002 began, I continued my work at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind.  During the school year, I taught the Job Skills Math courses for the Deaf school and I also taught a reading class.  There was a lot of work to do during the year, but somehow it all got done.  As the year came to a close, we started making plans for the next school year.  I was looking forward to working as a team with the other departments: the Vocational Department, the Residential Program and the Academic School.  Our goal was to pull our resources together to make an integrated approach to education. 

Students 

During the school year, I also had an opportunity to take an overnight trip with the middle school students  to Camp Greenville.  It was a wonderful experience with both the deaf students and the blind students.  I also attended the prom with the deaf high school students.  The students always look very nice during this outing.  The teachers can dress up nicely too.

Adult Education

I also did volunteer work with the Spartanburg Adult Learning Center. The center helps adults improve their reading skills and helps internationals improve their English skills.  I helped with the international program.  I used the skills that I learned from this program to help as I taught the reading class at the deaf school.  At the end of the semester I said goodbye to the seniors.

Converse College

Another program that I worked with was called TRIAD.  Its goal was to bring the deaf education programs for the Spartanburg school district, and SCSDB together to work with Converse College.  I was a co-chair with Sissy Ivy for the mentor program.  We organized (with the help of the Deaf community) activities to bring the Converse College students in contact with the Deaf in Spartanburg.  We had a good time with Silent Dinners, games at college, and even an Easter egg hunt.

Life Changing Walk with God

As the year began, I started going to a Bible study group that brought a lot of understanding to my life.  There were past hurts that I needed to deal with and this Bible study helped answer many questions that I had.  I felt myself growing closer to God as I spent more time in Bible study, reflection and prayer.  I saw God working through me with my work at church and with my students at school.  Some of the reflection was painful, but what I began to see was a renewed peace developing within.

New Friends

God even brought into my life new friends from the Deaf community.  As the summer begin, I found myself on off-road trails with my bicycle, swimming in the mountains, and going to Monday night worship services with my new friends.  Life in Spartanburg was taking a wonderful turn, one that was very enjoyable.