Notes

The worse thing about being different is figuring out that the way you perceive yourself is different from the way others perceive you.

For me, that realization came abruptly in second grade.
It came in ___'s class. Shaking from that day's excitement, barely able to contain ourselves we sat down on the brightly colored carpet and listened to the teacher teach us about animals.
See, babies are really cute, right? They can't quite speak right, and say things like "wabbit" instead of "rabbit," and "thunny" instead of "sunny." For most people, this funny way of talking goes away by age 6. For me, my speech disorder has been something I've spent the majority of my life struggling with.

Flash forward to middle school.

-elementary school
-do this, curl your tongue like this, candy, curly hair, tried, other people, games
-people can't place my accent, why do you speak funny, bullied
-valedictorian speech elementary school

-middle school another one, why are you going to do if you don't learn how to speak right
-never felt professional
-seldom spoke up in classes
-class popcorn reading
growing up, i had speech impediments

people pointed it out every time i spoke

couldnt’’ help but ask “where are you from” or mimic me

there are people who have it worse

people who never find their own voices, who never speak out

there is a stigma that surrounds these people
-still a quiet person, but people no longer ask me about my voice
-nmore confidnce
-rare, really


You describe how this impediment has given you strong incentive to learn how to make careful selection of your words, simultaneously minimizing the noticeable effects it has on your speech and allowing you to convey your message in a concise and powerful way, commanding the attention of others.