Living and Learning with Autism: A Sibling's Perspective

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While my peers volunteer with the Special Olympics to gain experience with the differently abled, I live the event every day. My younger brother has severe Autism. Life with him carries a unique set of challenges and benefits that have shaped me. I have never known what it is like to live without the perspective gained by having a sibling with a disability. Empathy, resilience and maturity have been the key to maintaining a positive and fulfilling life. They are the characteristics that are giving direction to my future.
Living with a sibling that must work hard for every milestone has been inspirational. I recently spent two years teaching my brother how to ride a three-wheel bike. He is 16years old and I am still working with him on the task of knowing the difference between “yes” and “no”. While we were in school together, I had a math class above his special needs classroom. I would …show more content…

Seeing the pain my brother has endured has set focus to my future. I hope to become a lawyer and fight internationally for the rights of all children, including the intellectually challenged. I have spent the summers of my high school years to peruse that purpose and prepare for college. I have participated in the Congressional Youth Leadership Conference, attended the Georgetown University School of Continuing Education, “International Law Institute” and attended the Harvard University Summer School pre-collage legal program “Evidence in the American Judicial System”.
My character has been shaped by my life experience. A character that is strong, self-directed, determined and forgiving. These traits will certainly be a perfect fit to help me pursue a degree at the University of Florida. By studying at your spectacular campus, I hope to develop my character further and progress from an undergraduate scholar, to a graduate student, to an alumni of the University of Florida, to a proud and active community

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