*drags my exhausted butt back into the thread*
Holy. Cow.
I had a really long day.
Today marked the beginning of a class for freshmen that helps them get ready for high school. I am one of seven upper level students that are "running" it. Both the freshmen and us tutors get a 1/2 credit for taking/running the program. It is only ten days long.
We had our training day on Friday. I was really pumped up. Our instructor brought up, about half way through the training, an opportunity that one of us could have. It's working with a boy that needs special attention. Our instructor described him as one that is afraid of tall ceilings. He said that whoever wanted to would be specifically focused on him instead of leading an entire group. My friend said she would and that was the end of that.
Nope. She came up to me later in the training day and asked if I would take him, she didn't think she had the patience to handle it. *sigh* I said sure. I thought that because of the ceiling thing he would just be skittish.
So today begins with me folding name tents. Don't. Ask.
My instructor comes over to me with a boy in tow. He introduced us and he gave me one of those 'this-is-him' looks. So I smiled and said hey. He didn't really answer.
A little bit later our instructor called us into a group one last time and told us that if, when an adult is circulating and checking in on us, that we are having any sort of trouble to say "We're learning" when asked "How's it going?"
So when it came time to break off away from the starting room, I went up to the boy and said, "Hey! We're gonna go to class now. I'll show you how to get there." He shook his head and kept his body turned away from me. Thank goodness a teacher saw and joined me in trying to get him to move. I swear we tried everything in the book.
After awhile she sighed, looked at me, and said "Go get *insert instructors name here*" So off I went down the hall. I get to his room and before I even step inside he asks, "How's it going?" because he knew that I should be with that boy. I gave him a look and said, "We're learning!" "Oh really?" he responds. He came out and I told him what was happening. He told me to go back and just chill with him. But as I was walking back, here came that teacher, with him walking by her side.

Hurray!
But that victory was short lived. He wouldn't go inside the classroom. My instructor and I tried everything. The thing that finally worked, like 30 minutes later, was taking his stuff and putting it in the room.
There were other things throughout the day but this is already long.
As I was driving away, I decided I deserved an ice cream lol.
We did make progress by the end of the day, but man was it a struggle to get there.
However I did learn about him; he is very informed about dogs. And by that I mean VERY informed-he's a walking dog book. Once I finally got him to talk to me, every other sentence was about his dogs or just dogs in general.
Also, as the day progressed I learned of his other fears; bugs, any vehicle with gasoline, stairs, sitting in a desk, being alone, and being outside (doesn't like the possibility of rain). Another thing I learned about him were his little quirks; he won't read tests, he won't bubble in answers on a bubble sheet for a test and he won't write his own paragraphs, just to name a few. So trying to have him take a pretest was interesting. I had to read the question and answer choices to him and bubble in his answers. Then I had to write his two paragraphs for his homework assignment.
Now in no way am I trying to judge this boy or be mean in anyway, I realize this is probably beyond his control.
But it was just a long day, and I have the highest respect for those that work with special needs kids day in and day out. You guys are miracles.