If anyone were to ever tell you that special needs children and adults cannot have friends that are not special needs, I need you to immediately correct them with a firm slap on the wrist.

Some of the greatest and most pure personalities I have ever come across in my life are special education students. They are funny, sassy, intelligent, and most of all, REAL. They do not need the validation of others in order to be who they want to be, and that's part of what makes them unique. I have had amazing friendships with students in my high school, and have been exposed to the special needs world for around a decade, thanks to my mom's career. Between all the crazy days, hard days, and lazy days, there are those rare wonderful days where everything seems to go right, and it makes you realize just how special these people are.

There was a particular student with Down Syndrome my senior year that my soul just attached to. He was almost always was the life of the party, and would do anything to see you smile. Every time I would sneak into my mom's classroom, his first response would be,"No! You go to class!" followed by a giant smile and a contagious giggle. He loves to sing along with the radio, and he loves a pair of socks he carries around. Everyone knew his name, because he was such a character. He truly warmed my heart with his big, sassy humor.

The amount of people, both young and old, with special needs that I have met in my life has helped form a deep passion, and love for their population. Yes, there are still bad days, believe me... there are bad days, but that by no means hinders the love and burden in my heart for them. They are people just like you and me. They have thoughts, feelings, emotions, likes, dislikes, personalities, character traits, names, faces, and a soul just like you and me.

Do not hear what I'm not saying though. This is by no means a call to arms and a broadcast to "go get ya a special friend." This is me trying to state my own personal appreciation for these people that have helped change and form my life; believe me, they are indeed special.