Celebrating Claire's Uniqueness

Hello there! My name is Claire, and I’m six years old. I’m a student at Metro Academy School, where I’m currently in first grade. It’s such a wonderful place to learn and grow! My teacher, Mrs. Nia, is truly the most amazing and kind-hearted teacher I could ever ask for. She’s always there for me, helping me whenever I need it and making sure I feel supported and included in everything we do in class.

You know, I’m a special needs child, which means that sometimes it can be a little tricky for me to express myself or share my thoughts and feelings with others. But even though it can be challenging at times, I always try my best! And here’s some exciting news, I found out that next week, our school is hosting a super fun event called “Show and Share.” It’s an opportunity for all of us to bring a project with a few special things from home and talk about them with our classmates. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I’m really excited because I want to participate and share something that’s meaningful to me.

I know it might be a little scary to stand in front of everyone and talk, but I believe I can do it! With a little courage and the support of my wonderful teacher and classmates, I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic experience. I can’t wait to pick out a few special things to bring and tell everyone all about them!

I’ve been thinking about what I can share with my class. There are so many things that make me… well, me! For example, I love playing with my friends, telling silly jokes that make people laugh, and being kind to everyone around me. My parents always say I’m brave because I like trying new things, even when they’re a little scary.

To get ready for the event, I decided to look through my mom’s memory box. It’s filled with pictures and keepsakes that tell the story of my life. The first picture I found was of me as a baby in India. That’s where I was born! My mom and dad adopted me when I was very little and brought me to America. In the picture, we’re all smiling so much, it makes me feel happy just looking at it.

Then, I found a picture of my cousin Mini. She’s like a sister to me! Mini lives in Australia now, but she visits us during vacations. We always have the best time together. She never makes me feel different or left out, and I miss her a lot when she’s far away.

There were also pictures of my grandma Nita and grandpa Tom. They’re my best friends! Grandma Nita always says the world is special because everyone is unique in their own way. Grandpa Tom tells the funniest stories that make me laugh until my tummy hurts. They make me feel strong and loved.

I also wanted to include pictures of the things I love to do. Music is one of my favorite hobbies because it helps me feel calm and happy. I also love gymnastics and soccer, they give me lots of energy! My best friend Chloe and I go to soccer practice together twice a week. She’s an awesome teammate and so much fun to be around.

Oh, and I can’t forget my other best friend, Rita! We met in music class. She’s in second grade, so she’s older than I, but we get along really well. Sometimes Rita feels sad because her mom can be strict and says mean things to her. It makes me wish everyone could be kind all the time.

At home, I have two pets: Lia, my bird, and Spice, my dog. Spice is so funny, she sleeps with me when she’s scared, but makes silly noises while she’s sleeping! Lia is amazing at singing; her songs make me smile every day.

As I worked on my project, I found a picture from the time I learned I have autism. My doctor told me something really cool, he said I have a special ability to smell things better than most people! He even said that one day, I might invent or discover something incredible because of it. Isn’t that exciting?

Even though my project was coming together nicely, I felt like something was missing. You see, I don’t have any pictures of my birth parents. I think about them sometimes, what they look like, where they are now, and if they’re okay. Do I have brothers or sisters? There are so many questions in my mind.

My mom explained that sometimes parents can’t take care of their kids because they’re too young or don’t have enough money. Other times, kids lose their parents in accidents, and families like mine adopt them to give them love and care. My mom always says, “We don’t need to be related by blood to be a family. Love is what makes us family.”

Since I didn’t have pictures of my birth parents, I decided to draw them instead. I imagined what they might look like and added them to my project. Now it felt complete! But as the big day got closer, I started feeling nervous. What if my classmates asked too many questions? What if they didn’t understand what it means to be autistic?

Finally, the day arrived! When it was my turn to present, I took a deep breath and shared my project with everyone. I told them about my family, my friends, my pets, and all the things that make me unique. When I finished, something amazing happened: my classmates clapped and cheered! Some of them even gave me hugs.

As the day ended, I felt so happy and proud. Sharing my story with my class was a big step for me, and it turned out to be one of the best days ever. My classmates were so kind and excited to learn about me and all the things that make me special. It made me realize that being different isn’t something to hide, it’s something to celebrate.

When I got home, my mom and dad gave me the biggest hugs. They told me how proud they were of me for being brave and sharing my story. Even Spice, my silly dog, seemed extra happy, wagging her tail and jumping around like she understood what a big deal today was.

That night, as I lay in bed with Spice snuggled next to me, I thought about everything that had happened. I thought about my family, my friends, and all the little things that make life so wonderful. I also thought about my birth parents and hoped they would be proud of me, too, wherever they are.

I realized that everyone has their own story to tell, and every story is important. My story might be different from someone else’s, but that’s what makes it special. And just like Grandma Nita always says, the world is more beautiful because everyone is unique in their own way.

Before I fell asleep, I whispered to myself, “I’m proud of being me.” And you know what? I really am.