Community of Inclusive Scholars: Lexi's Story

My name is Lexi, and I’m 20 years old. I am enrolled in Salem State University
(SSU) as part of a program called Community for Inclusive Scholars (CIS). CIS
allows students with disabilities the opportunity to go to college with support
while still enrolled in high school. The opportunity to be in college with support
is helping me prepare to be independent.

A Week Overview

One of the two courses I am taking at SSU is an education class with Professor Kristina Scott it is called Teaching Students with Exceptional Learning Needs. In this class she teaches us all different skills and techniques in the educational field. I also took a tennis class, and I loved playing even though I am very competitive. I am also taking IMPACT travel training which is a self- defense skills class. The IMPACT training class is important because it helps you learn different skills in the real world where you might find yourself in a difficult situation, and you don’t know what to do or how to approach it on your own if you don’t have support with you. The IMPACT training has also helped me learn how to use Uber. Uber is a transportation company that helps you get from place to place
without asking for a ride somewhere from parents. I also take part in multiple group exercise classes a week including kickboxing and Zumba. I enjoy each of the classes that I have experienced so far at SSU because they all seem very interesting, and I have made a lot of new friends.

I also work as a student intern at the Salem State Preschool. During my time at the preschool I interact with the children as well as help the staff. At the preschool there are two head teachers, two other student interns and 14 children, ages two to five years old. My job is to interact with the children while they play at the different stations such as: math and science, art table, sensory table, dramatic play, and taped off rug area. One thing that is difficult for me while working at the SSU Preschool is working with children that have
difficulty listening, but I enjoy working there because I feel that it gives me a lot of experience being in an early childhood education setting. Overall, my experience working at the SSU Preschool was very helpful to my future career goals.

Why College is Important to Me 

The reason college is so important to me is because I want to be able to reach my goal in education to find my dream career. I don’t know exactly what that will be, but hopefully, I will be able to work in a daycare setting. It is important that I succeeded enough to get the career I am hoping to have. This is the main reason why college is so important to me. Also, I feel that college is important to me because I also feel that it is a good thing for me to have the best college experience. This includes enjoying my time at SSU by taking classes in my major that I love and also just by making social connections with other
SSU students. Everyone here has different goals in life, and they want to succeed as do I. I am learning from the other students as well. Throughout the semester there are
many different events on campus that I can attend such as sporting events and guest speakers. This will be an important part of my college experience.

From High School to College

The difference between high school classes and college classes is that high school classes are easier and more modified and structured. I feel like college classes are more complex and informational. Also, I feel like college classes seem a lot longer than high school classes, but I enjoy college classes a lot more! I feel like every time I go to class I am learning something different each time. Students are able to use free speech, and
people will respect and listen to your statement. Lastly, I feel that in college you feel more grown up and the classes are on a higher level whereas in high school, you still feel like a young teen and the classes are on a more structured but simpler and lower level.

I think that what I like about not being in high school is that in college you get more freedom and you can make your own choices. When I was in high school, I felt like I
never really had time for myself. I always felt like I was doing work but now that I’m in college, I feel like when I do not have class I have time to myself to go to the library and get work done. In college I feel like you have a lot more responsibility by getting assignments done on time and showing up to class on time and being able to create your own schedule. The feeling of the responsibility I have for college is surprising because I feel like I’m now in control of what I want to do when I am not in class. When I was in high school I felt like I was always being told what to do and where to go but in college I feel like I can make my own decisions.

Plans for After CIS

I hope to continue to be enrolled at Salem State after the two years in CIS. I think that I have changed a lot while being enrolled at SSU. I have been trying to become more self confident and also becoming more responsible without being told by someone. For example, going to class or heading to the library on my own. Another way I feel that I have changed a lot is that I have been making a lot of social connections with other students and who are in some of my classes. I feel like I have changed a lot in these couple of months being in college. I feel like this program has set me up to succeed on so many levels. I think that other students would also enjoy this program as well.