Solitary Genius

Fresh out of college, with a degree in Speech Pathology, I landed my first real job. It was as a teacher to a special needs population of students. I was asked to participate in a revolutionary early intervention educational program for kids with severe communication problems. Little did I know that this extraordinary year would entirely transform me and my understanding of the world. What I learned is that each of us has our own way of communicating, our own way of reaching others. But we can only do this if we’re invited into a community of genuine love and listening. Solitary Genius is my recollection of this remarkable year. I met and fell in love with a group of children (all of whom were entering school for the first time) of undeniable intelligence who simply needed a different kind of educational support to be heard and to succeed. What they needed—and what I provided—was teaching from the heart. As these children blossomed, so did I. This is the story of helping a group of silent, solitary geniuses find their way into the larger world. As I did this, I also found myself.