Hello, if it is all the same I will choose not to use my name here, but know that I am a real survivor. When I was in elementary school I was diagnosed with Asperger's and associated with that dyslexia and ADHD. Throughout the rest of elementary school I was in special education and therapy. For me the negative stigma that surrounded special ED did not exist until I was in middle school. The teasing began in 5th grade and would not relent until my senior year of high school.

My parents had never told me that these social anxieties and learning disorders made me inferior, so I had dreams and aspirations just like everyone else. People talked down to me, and because of my social anxiety I was virtually in-able to stand up for myself. they called me stupid and retarded, and what was worse I even started to believe them. I wanted to be a Nurse, however, there were even adults who treated me different because of the way I am. I'll never forget my senior year of high school meeting with a counselor who suggested that a pick a different career because the pre-reqs for nursing would be too difficult. For me that was the worst part of it I was not seen as equal and I was not expected to accomplish much.

Fast-forward to now, I am 21 years old, I go to a respected state university and was recently accepted into nursing school. Moral of the story, all the oceans water can only make you sink if you let it in, just as all the negative things that happen to you can only bring you down if you let them. You are beautiful, you are smart, you are always enough. If there is a kid reading this trying to find encouragement, I hope this helps, and trust me... It gets better. We are all extraordinarily different, and different does not mean wrong.

Love, A conqueror