My name is Maddie Zitkus. I'm from a small town about 45 minutes away from North Central. I chose North Central because it's close to home, meaning I still get to spend lots of time with my family while continuing my education.
I've wanted to be a teacher ever since I was little. I used to play school in the basement with my sisters. I would be the teacher. and they would be my students. I would make worksheets, give spelling tests, and teach the alphabet in sign language. My grandma and my mom were teachers too, so school has always been a big part of my life. Up until about two years ago, I wanted to teach kindergarten.
More recently, I have decided I want to go into special education. Growing up, my best friend had a cleft pallet, meaning she had an opening in the roof of her mouth. Lots of the other kids in school made fun of her because they couldn't understand what she was saying. I was more excited to finally have a friend in my neighborhood that was a girl. This same concept reoccured in high school when I found a girl in the gym crying and throwing herself against the wall. A lot of people in that situation would think "What is she doing?" Very few people would know how to approach that. From that day forward, Katie and I have just clicked. As a teacher, I want to build relationships with my students built on trust and respect, as well as provide opportunities for children to reach their full potential. I hope to find ways for individuals with disabilities to feel valued by society.
