Growing up, my brother always seemed to steal the spotlight. His autism made him the center of attention, and I was often left feeling like I was invisible. I struggled with understanding social cues and fitting in with my peers. This led to me being seen as “weird” and feeling like I didn’t belong. I eventually learned to accept that my brother needed more attention and support than I did and stopped asking for things. I also taught myself how to make friends and find my place in unlikely situations. In addition, I discovered my height was an advantage in sports and began to pursue a career as a volleyball player. Although I still don’t feel like I fit in with my peers, I’ve learned to adapt and “fake it” in social situations, which has made life easier for me. However, I would never want anyone else to have to go through what I did to fit in.

It’s not easy to blend in and avoid standing out from the norms of society. I feel nervous around people, not because I’m afraid of communicating, but because I’m scared of being judged based on my past. It’s always been a challenge for me to teach myself things that come naturally to others, and it’s my biggest struggle as I try to make it through high school. In short, I’ve had to learn a lot on my own, and you should never feel like you need to change yourself to fit in with society’s expectations unless it’s illegal.