When I was first diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, I was ten years old and I had terrible movement and vocal tics. People didn’t understand me and came up to my face to ask what was wrong with me. It was hard to live with at first when people always stared at me and whispered about me. It also made my school work harder because it was always hard to concentrate in class. As I grew through the years, I learned not to take things personally because I found out people who make fun of me or Tourette’s Syndrome most likely don’t have a clue what they are talking about. However, the main turning point in my acceptance of my diagnosis was when I went to Tourette camp for a week in the summer before eighth grade. There, I met so many of people who had Tourette’s Syndrome and were feeling different like I did too. I did a lot of fun activities and met a lot of new friends. I didn’t want to leave camp because it was easy to be yourself there. I ended up going back there for the next two summers. After my first time at camp, I learned a lot about myself. I learned I wasn’t alone, there are people out there going through the same things I am. I also learned that there are people out there who understand me. Lastly, I learned not to listen to the people that make rude remarks about me. I was so happy after I returned home and I learned to accept my syndrome. I looked at myself differently and didn’t care what people thought about me. I had wonderful friends who loved me back home and I met amazing friends at camp. To this day I’m happy with my life and I don’t let my diagnosis get in the way with the things I love. I excel at swimming, my school work, my jobs, my faith, and being with my friends.