Sidney Wilkins has found her dream job. It is something that she didn't find out she wanted to do until her final year at Sault Area High School.
"In my senior year of high school, I actually got switched into the LINKS program as a ‘last option’ type of thing. It wasn’t something I was opposed to, but it wasn’t my first choice of an elective either. On the first day, I was beyond nervous, as most students are. Working with that population was a first for me, and I was scared of doing something wrong. Julie Henderson created such a great, inviting atmosphere for us to come into, and it made it that much easier to become comfortable.
LINKS is a peer-to-peer program that links general education students to help them learn about various disabilities and create relationships with our special education students. They do earn credit for taking the LINKS class.
Entering the LINKS program, that is when Sidney met a very special person.
"I was partnered with Jeremiah for a year. Although Jeremiah couldn’t communicate the same as a neuro-typical peer, his body language and short words/phrases allowed me to understand his wants and needs. You always knew by his contagious smile and air kisses that he was happy, which was 90% of the time," Wilkins said.
Someone with Jeremiah's severe and multiple disabilities can push general education students away.
Not Wilkins.
"I was immediately drawn to Jeremiah. Being in a wheelchair, I think most students were intimidated by him, but I felt like it didn’t exist. Once our friendship began to develop, I knew that experience was something that I was going to carry with me for the rest of my life." Wilkin explained.
As her final year of school progressed, she was encouraged to go into teaching by those who were watching her in the LINKS program.
"As we got further into the year, my love for the class and watching the students succeed flourished. All of the support staff, as well as Henderson, kept telling me how I should pursue teaching, which was the one career I said I’d never do. But after working with the students, I had no doubt it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life," Wilkins said.
Henderson has nothing but praise for Wilkins' work ethic and compassion for those with special needs.
"Sidney was a wonderful LINK who formed friendships with all our students, but especially with Jeremiah who faced a lot of challenges. He could not use a voice to communicate, and instead used facial expressions and the ability to point or touch items to answer questions. Sidney found a way to communicate with Jeremiah that could be seen every day. She would be greeted with a smile and a blown kiss whenever she came into the room. She came up with activities geared to his abilities and helped to include him in all school activities. I’d like to think she found her calling in our room." Henderson said.
Even after Wilkins graduated high school in 2018, she continued to visit and work with him for the following five years while she was still in town attending Lake Superior State University.
Then some devastating news.
On Dec. 17, 2023, Wilkins woke up that morning with multiple messages on her phone that Jeremiah passed away just a few hours earlier.
He was 26-years-old.
"I somehow over the years tried to prepare myself for that day because I knew it would come at some point, but I truly didn’t think it would be so soon. My heart broke for all the people that loved him, and I felt guilty for not seeing him as much since I had moved. I was and am still sad, I am grateful to have been a part of his life and remember how mine is forever changed because of him," Wilkins expressed.
Wilkins was so connected with Jeremiah that she travelled to the funeral and paid her last respects. The service was held downstate in Clinton Township near Detroit.
Currently, the 24-year-old Wilkins is working for the Kent Intermediate School District at a specialized center-based program where she teaches adults with autism. She is also earning her Masters Degree in Autism at Grand Valley State University.
"Being an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) teacher was everything I knew I wanted to do after not only taking the LINKS class but continuing to work with adults with disabilities as a direct care worker throughout college," Wilkins said.
Wilkins loves her job as it is filled with love and laughter.
"I pride myself in being able to develop great relationships with my students and I’ve done just that. My team and I have so much fun with our students and there’s not a day that goes by where we aren’t laughing with each other. The biggest thing I tell people about what I do is how FUN it can be. My students are some of the funniest individuals with the best quirks and humor, and every day is different. There’s so much creativity that can be brought into teaching, especially when teaching high-support individuals with complex needs, and getting to do that every day while watching them grow is the best feeling. We focus on building skills that revolve around behavior, communication, community interaction, vocational skills, and overall independence. Seeing my students grow and succeed continues to bring me so much joy and there isn’t a doubt I was meant to be in this field," Wilkins said.
It's been over six years since she officially ended her role as a LINK in Henderson's special education class and started pursuing that career in something she truly relishes.
"As I’ve grown into the person I am today, working in the special education field has instilled so many morals and values in me that I take everywhere I go. It has taught me to be able to shift my perspective in situations, to be patient when I don’t want to be, to trust myself and my intuition, and above all, to be compassionate and empathetic towards others always," Wilkins concluded.
