If you follow my blog then you are aware that Brian started High School 2 weeks ago. Quite honestly  you may be sick of hearing about it since I’ve been talking about it since last year. I promise after this, no more new school talk! Tomorrow begins week 3 and I can’t believe I am saying this but his transition could not have gone better. I’ve had friends tell me that they have heard from their kids that Brian seems very happy and he smiles a lot. Yes! Exactly what I wanted to hear. It’s a step I really can’t believe happened. I’m in that time warp phase of life where I’m always astounded at how fast time goes by. It seems like it was only a few years ago that Brian started kindergarten but in reality it was a decade ago. Not going to lie, it’s been a hard decade and I really don’t mourn its passing. Instead I’m looking forward to bigger and better things.

With the start of High School I’ve done quite a bit of soul searching and darn it….why can’t I just leave well enough alone? Things are good. So why can’t I stop thinking about what starting High School really means for Brian. It means the beginning of the end in terms of school, and Brian loves school. He loves seeing his classmates and friends and I know these years are going to fly past at hyper speed. Turning 21 leads to a huge abyss for these kids and that topic needs its own blog post.  For this post I’m doing something a little different. I’ve decided to address a letter to all the kids that go to High School with my son but I want to think bigger than that. All high school students everywhere. Yes. Go big or go home. Right?

Dear students,

You have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.  Don’t be afraid to take that opportunity and step out of your comfort zone. Don’t let a nonverbal classmate give you pause. Understand these 4 years in High School might just be the best 4 years of my child’s life and I invite you to be a part of that. He thrives on routine and in school buildings with teachers and aides. He would be happy going to school 365 days a year. These 4 years are not the spring board to higher education like they are yours. He’s not thinking of colleges or Greek life or turning 21. He’s not thinking of the homecoming dance next month or getting his drivers license next year or having a girlfriend.  He doesn’t care if he is wearing cool clothes or the hippest shoes or if he will sit in the student section at the football game. His thoughts are simple, pure, innocent and above all nonjudgmental.

He is thinking of you. Yes you.

You students are a critically important part of his world.

He is relying on you to acknowledge him, to smile at him and to greet him. Even though in so many ways he is different, he is relying on you to treat him like a peer.  He is trying to figure out a world that seems to come at him at 100 miles per hour, and your understanding and support will go a long way to helping him succeed.  He probably will not be able to reciprocate your friendship and support in any typical way but it will mean the world to him.  And it is not just Brian who needs your support.  It is every special needs kid in every school struggling to get through the day the best that they can.  I know it seems I am asking a lot.  Navigating life as a high school student is challenging for every kid.  It is not easy to make the effort to view the world from a perspective outside yourself. I, too, went to High School so I know this but in reality I am just asking that when you have the opportunity to treat Brian or any special needs kid with kindness and respect, do it.  You will make their day and you will benefit in ways that can’t be measured except by the internal knowledge that you did the right thing for no other reason than it was the right thing to do.

I hope you know that I know many of you are already doing this and for that I am beyond
thankful! I’m trying to reach those that are unsure and for any reason reluctant. You may be too young to understand this but true happiness and fulfillment comes from within and reaching out to others just may fill your heart more than you can even imagine. As you struggle through the daily grind of high school, remember that the best way to change the trajectory of a bad day is to do something selfless for someone else.  It costs nothing but the return is priceless.

I have faith in you. 🙂