Life Skills Bio

 “It’s Just Two More Minutes”

By Hana Hollingshead

I am sure you have heard him. With a somewhat infamous musical voice that often fills the grounds of Templeton, and his unwaveringly positive teacher, this student is a bright spot in our community and the Life Skills hallway. His name is Hannes, and he loves to go for walks with his kind and incredibly inviting teacher and companion, Aaron Rutledge.  Although most are familiar with his signature voice, there is much more to Hannes, Aaron, and their incredible relationship. 

“What makes Hannes so loveable, is his joy for music, food, walks, and singing,” says Aaron, after returning from yet another walk with Hannes through the neighbourhood. When asked to describe his connection with Hannes, he described it as “intuitive,” saying “this works really well for me. Hannes and I can quickly sort each other out in terms of what he needs.” These words were put to action a mere five minutes prior, when Hannes was stressed out and without missing a beat, Aaron picked up a guitar, and sang a simple yet charming song, knowing exactly how and what to do. This calmed Hannes down completely and brought an infectious smile to his face. Although he is non-verbal, it was clear that he was happy and relaxed, which Aaron was entirely responsible for. This moment left me somewhat speechless, in awe of the expertise and grace that Aaron approached the situation with. I even felt myself smiling and feeling calmer than I had felt before. 

It can be easy to look at someone who is neurodivergent and assume that we simply know more than them, but my brief time with Aaron and Hannes helped me to shift my thinking away from that narrative. When asked about what Hannes has taught him, Aaron left me with a simple, yet empowering quote. “He’s able to navigate stressful situations when anyone says ‘it’s just two more minutes’… and that is good for anyone. Whatever struggle you are having right now, whether that is communication, or discomfort, just around the corner, two more minutes away, there is probably something to resolve that.”

As we close out the year, remember; it is just two more minutes. 


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