Today's students are fortunate enough to grow up in an environment where education is student-focused. Programs supporting the needs of students on both an educational and personal level exist. The alternative setting promotes both acceptance of the individual and appreciation of diversity. The author was overwhelmed when she became a media specialist in an alternative school. She could not grasp the idea of students not towing the line. The students she encountered were borderline adults with emotions ranging from the righteous to the ridiculous and all things in between. As she got to know the students at her new school, she learned that they were pretty darn good people. Working with the students, the author found that her role as a media specialist would encompass more than teaching information skills and recommending good literature. As the school year progressed, the author learned a lot about the students at her school and they learned a lot about her. Sharing things with the students makes her more of a "real" person to them, not just another obstacle in their way.