Everyone dreams of having the best childhood when it comes to school life. The best grades, looks, friends, and of course, popularity. You see it in the movies and different tv shows. You wish for it, you crave it and envy the ones who are. Not everyone has that life, especially the ones who have a disorder.
It all started in the 5th grade. Parts of my body weren't acting as "normal." Kids kept staring, laughing, running away from me during recess. I would even get yelled at by my teacher. It was actually the student teacher, Ms. Stone, who brought it up to my mother and the other teacher saying that she thought something was wrong. Sure enough she was right.
Living with Tourette’s Syndrome has caused some major set backs in my life. In middle school, kids would make fun of my head twitches calling them, “The Julia.” Then eventually the bullying stopped and I had gained friends. I remember eating my lunch either by myself or in the bathroom before that could happen though.
For any of you who don't know what Tourette's is a disorder which affects your nervous system and causes repetitive movements or unwanted sounds. This disorder is mostly common in boys. So when I was diagnosed it was puzzling.
Now being 19 years old, I've grown out of my tics and they only come up sometimes and are very subtle. But, I still come across those instances where people on my campus stare at me or ask me if I have a tickle in my throat. Once I tell them the truth, they suddenly feel bad. It makes me think back to when I was bullied for the same disorder and wonder how kids could have been so cruel. Simply, because they did not realize what they were laughing at, eventually, kids grow up and they become more understanding, their views on this completely change.
Here is a little piece of advice: Please don’t judge someone by looking at them when they pass you on the sidewalk. They are a real person with real issues. They have a heart and feelings. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge a girl based on what her body puppets her to do because that girl could end up changing your life.
