Passing the Torch, The End of an Incredible Journey

I decided to take a break from studying and write this. For those who don't know, I stepped down as President of the Autism Awareness Club.

I have been president of this club for a year and a half. The big reason why I formed this club was because of how many families and friends were being effected by Autism. Today, Autism occurs in one out of every 110 individuals.

I have mild autism while my younger brother Nicky has severe Autism. Those factors led me to create the Autism Awareness Club and when the idea flew off the ground, I called it "The beginning of an incredible Journey."

And what an incredible journey it was. I lectured to members of my group about what Autism was and the symptoms a young child with Autism displays. I even got nostalgic and showed my club my different "stimming" stages over the course of my life. I demonstrated to the club by taking bits of paper and stimmed with it on the table. The same thing for cereal. I even explained how I used to stim with girls' long hair when I was tiny.

I showed them my toy spider, which is something I stim with today. When I was between the ages of eight and twelve, I used to stim in the pool by frequently splashing the water.

I even had the honor of revealing my unusual interests and fascinations. It was cool that I was sharing with the group the different experiences I went through during my childhood and showing it on the projector. (A Current Affair, Pictures of High Tension Power Lines, Viacom, the Los Angeles Kings' old logo)

I was asked to give Autism lectures to classes. In the Fall and Spring Semester, I went to two Graduate Education Classes under the same professor and talked about being in Special Education classes from preschool up until the third grade. During a Q and A session in the class, a Graduate student informed me of a four year old boy with Autism who loves to wear dresses and who wants to be the wicked witch of the West for Halloween. I told her that I could relate because when I was four, I wanted to dress up as the Wicked Witch of the West for Halloween too. I was fascinated in the pointy hat just like I was interested in was Wonka's Top Hat.

Connor, a young boy with High Functioning Autism who has his own blog, came with me to a Psych Child Life class and we both lectured about Autism while his parents were there. It was a great experience and Connor did really well.

I also met Nick Bonnacci, a kid my age who also has High Functioning Autism. We played Madden at his house, he came to our meetings and played a pivotal role in our club. I also met my Compeer Mentee, Christopher who also has high functioning Autism. He's a lot of fun and we really enjoy hanging out with each other. Christopher is a great swimmer but most of all, he is a great friend.

Pool Pals, which I talked about in this blog already, was a great experience. The last one we did was a great moment. My former partner Norbert, and my current partner who loves the lane lines, both went on the adjacent tubes at the same time, slapped each other hi-five and jumped back in the pool.

Norbert used to be afraid of climbing up the tube/raft. He used to be afraid of going in the boat as well but this semester, he overcame both of his fears. At the end of the program, he and his dad went to the coordinator of the pool-Pals program and Norbert told her, "thank you for teaching me to be brave."

I went back to my High School, the Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports. I gave Autism lectures to four different 9th grade classes. Two students in the classes had family members with Autism. There was even a Special Education Teacher in the class. The students were a great audience. They knew what questions to ask like "Do you play sports, have you been in a relationship, would you date a girl who has Autism, etc." It was my first time back in High School since just after I graduated High School just under three years ago. Giving Autism lectures at my High School was a great experience.

I volunteered to be an assistant drumming instructor at the Kelberman Center building last year. We were teaching basic drumming instructions to non-verbal adults with Autism. A lot of them participated in the drumming sessions. They may not have been able to talk, but you can feel the excitement coming from them as they were playing their drums.

The Walk for Autism this year was a huge success. Everyone donated to the cause and the attendance was huge. The Field Hockey, Football, Men's/Women's Hockey, Men's/Women's Soccer, Sororities, Fraternities, Student Organizations, etc. were at the walk.

On World Autism Awareness Day, I thought I was in the ocean. Everyone was wearing blue to celebrate Autism Awareness. In fact, to this day, I see a lot of people on campus wear the Autism Awareness Club t-shirts, and the Kelberman Center's Walk for Autism Shirts.

Every issue of the Tangerine for the month of April had poems written about Autism by different writers. It felt great to read that. It's a great feeling seeing other people spreading awareness by wearing shirts, writing, and advertising.

This year, the club AND the campus raised over $500 to the Autism Speaks Foundation and $100 to the Kelberman Center to benefit people with disabilities.

As of last Tuesday Night, I am no longer the President of the Autism Awareness Club. I will still lecture about Autism in different classes if called upon and I will still lead the Team Autism Intramural teams.

Victoria Cruz Griffith will be the President of the Autism Awareness Club for the 2010-2011 School year. Victoria is the right person for the job. When our club first started, Victoria quoted to the Tangerine that "She has been waiting for this club her whole life." Reading that quote made me feel really good and increased my confidence. Victoria also showed facebook pictures of getting Autism Speaks Puzzle Pieces painted on her arm and she wore a thick blue strand in her hair everyday during Autism Awareness Month.

The Torch has been passed. Victoria will continue this Incredible Journey. Good luck Victoria!