Once called a 'monster,' this teacher with Down syndrome is seriously inspirational
An Argentinian woman with Down syndrome gets the top grade when it comes to inspiration.
Noelia Garella is one of the world’s first preschool teachers with the genetic condition, thwarting anyone who’s ever doubted her. And there have been plenty of haters.
When the 31-year-old was in preschool herself, a teacher told her she was a “monster.” And while she’s been discouraged from following her dream of teaching, Garella has kept working towards her goal. Her family, and even her town’s mayor, has helped support her along the way.
After taking courses on teaching children to read, Garella now teaches a class of toddlers, alongside another teacher. She doesn’t slack out on her job either, acting out voices to match the characters in the books she reads
“I adore this. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a teacher because I like children so much,” she tells AFP. “What I like most about being a teacher is the beauty in the children’s hearts, their love.”
School director Alejandra Senestrari admits to that people “in a position of responsibility” were hesitant to hire a teacher with disabilities, but that changed once they saw how much the children loved Garella.
One parent adds that those who once opposed having her on the staff have all changed their tune.
“We very quickly realized that she had a strong vocation,” he told the AFP. “She gave what the children in the nursery classes most appreciate, which is love.”
Now Garella has a message to the teacher who dismissed her.
“Now I am a happy monster,” she says. “She’s the one who is the sad monster.”
