Every person has a quality that makes them unique. For some, these qualities may personality traits or physical characteristics. The words perky, blonde and dreamer have often been used to describe me. Those labels I have no problem with. Those who choose to merely label me as a stutterer; I do have a problem with.
As a very ambitious person, I never understood why people let things stand in their way. I have stuttered from a very young age. I could definitely have hid in the background, but the sideline is not my thing. From readings I have done, most stutterers choose professions that they do not have to deal with the public. I, for some strange reason, decided that politics and communications is my calling.
Whether your obstacle is stuttering, stage fright or [insert your obstacle here], I’m sure that with the help of your family and friends you can beat it, or at least learn coping tricks as I have. There are many options open to you. If you are a stutterer, check out the Canadian Stuttering Association or the Stuttering Foundation of America.
There is literature that will help everyone from your teachers, to your family better understand what you are dealing with. Believe it or not, you are not the only person who stutters. There are 68 million people worldwide who stutter. Three million Americans have this speech issue as well as one per cent of Canadians.
Keep this in mind; there is more to a person than one label. What makes you different, makes you beautiful!
