As a part of a multi-grade understudy, Benjamin Giroux was given a faculty task to compose a ballad. His particular challenge was to jot down the lyrics to a title of “I Am.” The preliminary two phrases in every sentence got, and it was as much as Benjamin to jot down the remaining. What resulted is a completed product that he poured his coronary heart into.

Benjamin is a 10-year-old baby from Plattsburgh, New York, who has been recognized with Asperger syndrome. He doesn’t specific a lot emotion with others, however was excited for this task. At work on the challenge at house, Benjamin’s household mentioned he did not lookup from his paper till he was completed.

When he confirmed his poem to his dad and mom and his trainer, every grownup was overwhelmed with emotion.

Benjamin had all the time felt totally different due to autism, and at occasions mentioned it made him stand out from the opposite youngsters. By means of his accomplished poem, the actual, uncooked, reflection of residing as himself comes via in a daring and delightful method.

I Am

I am odd, I am new
I wonder if you are too
I hear voices in the air
I see you don’t, and that’s not fair
I want to not feel blue
I am odd, I am new
I pretend that you are too
I feel like a boy in outer space
I touch the stars and feel out of place
I worry what others might think
I cry when people laugh, it makes me shrink
I am odd, I am new
I understand now that so are you
I say I, “feel like a castaway”
I dream of a day that that’s okay
I try to fit in
I hope that someday I do
I am odd, I am new.

-Benjamin Giroux