Eric was a second place winner of a 2025 NJCTS Scholarship.
Here is the essay he included with his application.
When I was 8, my Tourette Syndrome barged into my life ruthlessly and without warning. Repetitive screams echoed through my home, as did sounds of banging as I punched myself in the face and smashed my head against tables. My self-harming tics quickly became so detrimental that wearing a boxing helmet to protect my face from bruising became a regular part of my life.
In response to the rapid onset of my tics, my dad sought out local support groups and connected with advocates who informed my 3rd-grade teacher on how to support me in the classroom. With their guidance, she cultivated a class environment that was both sympathetic and accommodating. Thanks to my teacher’s efforts, that school year produced some of my fondest memories of elementary school.
Around the time I turned 11, my tics subsided dramatically, and I relocated from upstate New York to New Jersey. As I adjusted to my calmer circumstances, my TS became an increasingly smaller part of my life. However, discovering the NJCTS awakened a sense of purpose within me, opening a new chapter of my life where my past struggles would soon transform into new strengths.
Surrounded by people who inspire and uplift me, I’ve challenged myself to grow tremendously. Through advocate presentations, I’ve not only made significant progress in public speaking but found confidence in using my voice to send a powerful message. Raising $600 for the annual Walk for TS fundraiser, I developed a deep sense of purpose in taking action to support my community.
Joining the NJCTS community was also an invaluable journey of self-discovery. Learning about comorbidities like OCD and Executive Dysfunction redefined my understanding of myself and my behaviors. From small mannerisms like the ways I fidget to larger habits like how I organize my time, learning about my Tourettes has helped me appreciate how my unique condition affects me.
My most profound advocacy experience came when I reconnected with my 3rd-grade teacher. Last summer, I reached out to finally thank her for her efforts all those years ago. To my excitement, she was thrilled to hear from me and even invited me to visit her classroom as a guest reader. After a 4 hour drive, I returned to Manlius, New York, for the first time in 8 years. As I read Mari Schuh’s My Life With Tourette Syndrome to an audience of children who weren’t even born when I was last in her classroom, I recognized the importance of the milestone I had just achieved.
Over the last decade, my Tourette Syndrome has transformed from a challenge that tied me to a boxing helmet to a pillar of my identity. It has taught me lifelong lessons in compassion for myself and others, along with the power of community. I look towards my undergraduate years with eager anticipation, confident in the guidance these lessons will provide me. I’ll soon discover how my TS will continue inspiring me to grow and thrive throughout this exciting stage of my life.
