“Kneel down and act like a squirrel,” taunted some of my classmates. The fifth grade recess game of touch football was a breeding ground for “Lord of the Flies” behavior that made me feel upset and confused. I was taught to respect my peers and teachers. I felt helpless as I watched some classmates bully a kid who could not adequately defend himself. The teacher was twenty feet away. Why didn’t he notice what was happening? I had to do something to make it stop.
My thoughts immediately went to my younger brother, Teddy, who has a diagnosis of autism and remains non-verbal. Who would watch out for him when I moved on to Middle School? I was distraught to imagine him, unable to speak for himself, being made to feel worthless and alone.