by NJCTS | Sep 21, 2026 | Helpful Tips, Teen Blogger
One of the least obvious aspects of what an advocate does is the actual planning of fundraising events. In order to continue our mission of educating and advocating on behalf of those with Tourette Syndrome, we need to raise funds. For me, I chose to plan a track and...
by NJCTS | Sep 15, 2026 | Helpful Tips, Teen Blogger
Hi, my name is Dylan Straley, and I’m a junior at Colts Neck High School. Summer flew by, and now it’s that time of year again—back to school. I know the start of the school year can feel stressful, but sometimes the best thing you can do is just sit down, take a...
by NJCTS | Aug 25, 2026 | Helpful Tips, Teen Blogger
I was seven years old when I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome but ten years old when I found out. After noticing my tics, my parents brought me to a neurologist and got my Tourette diagnosis. Their decision at the time because I was so young was to explain to me...
by NJCTS | Aug 25, 2026 | Teen Blogger
Hi, I am Amanda I am currently studying the performing arts and elementary education. My sister, Emily, has Tourette’s Syndrome. She is the most caring, passionate, strong, loving, and determined person I have ever met. She does not let her tics define her but she...
by NJCTS | Jun 2, 2026 | Helpful Tips, Teen Blogger
“So, how do you feel?” The neurologist asked me. I answered, “I don’t know.” But the reality is, that I actually didn’t know. How could six year old me put into words what it’s like when your whole body suddenly decides to move without permission or warning?...
by NJCTS | Mar 30, 2026 | Helpful Tips, Teen Blogger
I have been living with a tic disorder for over 10 years now. I have had to cope with eye blinking, nose scrunching, and neck jerking movements over the years. When I was little, I would have weeks experiencing these symptoms followed by months free of tics. I would...
by NJCTS | Jan 14, 2026 | Helpful Tips, Teen Blogger
An activity we do every year at the Tim Howard Leadership Academy is elevator pitches. An elevator pitch is a short, concise explanation meant to quickly explain something important. In this case, the pitch is about Tourette’s Syndrome. Learning how to give an...
by NJCTS | Nov 13, 2025 | Teen Blogger
In my eyes, Tourette’s syndrome isn’t just a disorder, and it isn’t torture, even though some days it truly feels like it tries to tear me apart. To me, Tourette’s is like a strange, unpredictable friend who never leaves my side. It’s there through every high and...
by NJCTS | Aug 3, 2025 | Teen Blogger
From a young age, my tics have often suffocated me in my day-to-day life—eye blinking, lip smacking, sniffling. Before I ever knew the cause of my tics, they attracted strange looks and mockery from other kids. My diagnosis of Tourette’s Syndrome at the age of 15 gave...
by NJCTS | Jun 17, 2025 | Scholarship Recipient, Teen Blogger
Jordan was a first place winner of a 2025 NJCTS Scholarship. Here is the essay he included with his application. When the Devils scored, I blinked. My hands froze while my eyes moved involuntarily. Although the Devils won, I felt as though I’d lost. My individual...
