For his first co-op, Julien Stainback ’19 pursued an opportunity that would compliment his passion for supporting others by taking on the role as paraprofessional educator at Crotched Mountain School and Rehabilitation Center. Crotched Mountain, located amidst a beautiful mountain in New Hampshire, serves individuals with various developmental and physical disabilities with the goal of encouraging independence and transitioning them back into their communities. As a paraprofessional educator, Julien worked closely with those at Crotched Mountain to complete daily tasks ranging from getting ready in the morning to walking them to school and assisting throughout the classes. A key learning point was to remain patient despite the many chaotic moments or unexpected events. “It is so hard, but it is always worth it at the end of the day because caring for these students is the number one objective. There is a lot of joy and fun to be had during work,” states Julien. He is grateful for the opportunity to interact with the wonderful community at Crotched Mountain, learning about himself and others, and hopes to experience similar dynamics in future
co-op opportunities.
