Hi everyone!

My name is Jacob and I have over-responsive SPD, and I am 18 years old. Today, my father took me out to breakfast and started asking me what seemed like philosophical questions before finally revealing that I have SPD and was diagnosed with it when I was only four years old. I had always been a bit of a socially awkward kid, but at the same time I was still able to get along with everyone and maintain many friendships during my elementary and middle school life. However, I chose to suppress all of the memories of my being socially awkward and - different. When I was a kid, I hated being 'different'. I guess at some point I knew I was, which is why I hated it so much, and why I came to dislike my mom at a young age for insisting that I was 'different' and 'sensitive' (to be fair, she never told me that it wasn't my choice that I was different and sensitive).

When my father told me, I thought he was joking and insisted that I felt fine - and always have felt fine. But then he started telling me stories, stories and memories that I have suppressed and denied for so long. He reminded me of all of the times when I had to get shots, and how much I would fight against them. He reminded me of the time when I was in the 6th grade and attempted to distract the opposing team during a flag football game by singing 'Happy Birthday' to one of their players during the final minutes of a close game (one of my most embarrassing memories). He reminded me of the time when I involuntarily started crying during a school play because of the lights and sound. It all came flooding back to me like a tsunami and I cried uncontrollably. He told me how much it pained him and my mother that I had to go through all of the bullying in elementary school - by both students and teachers - and that they didn't know what to do about it. They couldn't just tell me to become more insensitive, because obviously that was impossible (although they did try, and it only triggered my emotional sensibility even more).

High school brought about change for me, though. I entered a high school of over 4,000 students and was at first overwhelmed, but quickly adapted and set up my routine, as I (and most of us SPDers) always have. During my first two years of high school, I was part of the football team (not the greatest idea being an over responsive SPDer, but my passion rested with the sport, and I loved the game, even though I despised being hit). I think the one of the biggest reasons that I stayed with football for so long is that my mother always told me that I was too sensitive to play football, and although she was right, I hate being told that I can't do things because of the way I am - especially when I am passionate about those things. The hard part about those first two years is that I went into that high school knowing less than ten people, and I struggled to make friends because I was so socially awkward. This led to a mild depression in my life because I felt so bored and lonely when I wasn't at school or at football practice. The real change occurred during my senior year, though, and I suddenly became happier and more fulfilled.

In my opinion, my mood changed because I became more involved in the community and changed my entire philosophy on life. By this time I had quit football and got a job (which was really just a tradeoff of hours during the week, and still left me bored and lonely). What changed is that I joined some school clubs. I joined two volunteering clubs, one religious club, and formed my own Ultimate Frisbee club, because after going a year without playing organized sports, I realized how much I really missed them due to my competitive nature (not sure if that's more of a philosophy thing or because of my SPD). This changed me in two fundamental ways: 1) I now had a purpose to my life, something positive to look forward to and help grow, and a set goal for each of those clubs and communities. 2) An instant 50+ friends that all shared the same interests, purposes, and views.

What now? Well, since being an over-responsive SPDer inherently makes one more aware of their surroundings, I can say that I learn and pick up things at a faster rate than the average population. That, combined with our constant need for routine has made me really good at many things. Currently, I am the youngest player to ever make the roster of one of the top Ultimate Frisbee club teams in the United States. I am a National Honor Society Scholar, and AP National Scholar. I have more friends than I can count, and, most importantly - I am happy.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to posting more in the future.

Jacob