Every girl that has a brother understands that the two most important things they care about are food and video games. While this might be true for my one older brother and some of my brother-in-laws, this isn’t true about my other brother. My 22-year-old brother knows everything about the presidents, vice presidents, and first ladies by heart, knows all the lyrics to every Prince and Frank Sinatra song ever made, and his favorite food is the classic cereal with milk. He loves his family, greets everyone he sees, and loves to hang out with his buddies from school. Did I also mention that he has autism?

My brother was diagnosed with autism around the age of 5 years old, and I was age 4 at the time. Classic symptoms included no eye contact, stopping talking right around his first birthday, and obsessing over any moving object such as riding elevators up and down multiple times, and staring at ceiling fans spinning on the high setting. Once the diagnosis came, my parents weren’t sure if they should be relieved or devastated by the diagnosis of autism. Throughout the 17 years since he has had autism, there have been many ups and downs, and when the downs were down, they were extreme. However, when the ups were up, it was the most magical thing.

There was one specific time about a year ago, Spencer came up and told me that he wanted to go to T.G.I.Friday’s for his birthday dinner. He really enjoyed their wings, so I told him that I could make it happen. I called the restaurant and made reservations in the private room that has balconies overlooking Miller Park where the Brewer’s played. One of Spencer’s favorite activities is going to baseball games, so I knew that he would love it.

The whole family came to the restaurant and we sat in this cool suite overlooking the whole baseball field. Spencer was in awe as he looked over the field and looked to the screen to see his name and a happy birthday sign on the TV screen in the room. We had dinner and everyone was having a good time and then Spencer ordered his special dessert. It was a piece of Oreo cake, of course. The way he looked at my family and the dessert almost lead me to tears. To see him so happy is what makes the world go round for me. It is very hard for my brother to show affection to others, but that night he told me he loved me and I couldn’t help but shed a tear for the affection he showed me that evening.

My brother has inspired me to accept everyone for who they are. Every person is different, but differences are okay. Never judge a book by its cover; always get to know the chapters. He taught me that family always comes first, over everything and everyone else. He taught me to love and be loved by others as it is the most special emotion. The most important lesson he taught me is that being positive is the best way of living and that as long as you are positive, you can make the most of every situation. I love my brother with all of my heart, and this is why he is my number one inspiration.