u/Latter-Opposite6229

Is it just me, or has there been a significant increase in the amount of cops on the road lately? Driving around the south hill area, along meridian, and downtown, normally I’d see one or two on the road every few days. I saw 4 cops yesterday, one followed me down the entirety of shaw road, and saw like 6 today just driving downtown. They’re all from different cities too—Kent, Bonney Lake, King County Sheriff, even SeaTac. I think it’s weird.

Hey all, this is my first time posting in this subreddit. This is something I have to get off my chest, advice is greatly appreciated.

Last year I started working as a special education para at a high school, and for the majority of the year I had a great time. I enjoy working with students and helping them improve and learn new skills. I also greatly enjoy building relationships and connecting with students, it puts a smile on both our faces.

Due to staff changes and scheduling, halfway through the year I started briefly working 1:1 with a student with some behavioral and medical support needs. I was mostly covering bathroom breaks or lunches, and another para was always in the room when I was with this student.

However, (on a day I was out of work) this student had a medical episode and the para who most often worked with them reacted incredibly poorly. She was pulled from working with the student, and I was essentially put into her shoes. This was quite fine for a while, this student and I built a great connection and I enjoyed watching them improve on their academic skills. The teacher, and fellow paras, praised me for how well I worked with this student and my ability to get them to do actual academic work. I felt great about my job, and the student was happy too. Until they had another medical episode when I was working with them.

Ever since that day happened, and I saw firsthand what the episodes look like, I’ve been extremely stressed about working with this student. Especially because one of their HIGHLY preferred activities can cause these episodes (HIGHLY, because attempting to monitor or transition to another activity can lead to aggression and escalated behaviors).

For the remainder of the school year, I was in survival mode doing whatever I could to keep the student away from the preferred activity, to prevent another episode. This stress was astounding, constantly worrying about another episode and if I can react fast enough. Some of this student’s stims can mimic the start of an episode, heightening my stress. Whenever this student would walk up to the classroom door, I would get a fight or flight response. I wanted to run away. Every day I wished the student was sick, or had an appointment, or something that prevented them from showing up to school.

I feel awful about thinking these things about a student I have a good relationship with and actually enjoy working with. But the stress is still there.