When I was four I was diagnosed with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD, OCD, Selective Mutism, Social Phobia, Chronic Anxiety, and Chronic Depression. I would cut and beat myself everyday since then. My peers would make fun of me everyday. When I was nine a girl moved to my town from Michigan. One day at recess a boy tried to kill me and the new girl saved my life while everyone else was cheering the boy on. In the fifth grade I did a speech at my school about my disorders with the girl. Every single child in the room was crying. This is when I new that I wanted to speak for the people that are not able to speak. I am now thirteen, in the seventh grade. I am a prodigy in geography and psychology. I am also a very talented dancer. The girl from Michigan has now been my best friend for four years and the principal always makes sure she is in all of my classes. I have never had any other friends because everyone feels to guilty about bullying me to even look at me. I am still young but I know that my life would have no purpose if I had not been through all of this

Bethany Powers
Hiddenite, NC