Boy With Autism Gets Homework Assignment To Compose Poem — His Teacher Is Lost For Words
Oct 01, 2020 by apost team
Sometimes, students can surprise their teachers. Occasionally, you will give a simple assignment and the student's work will absolutely blow you away. That was the case for Benjamin Giroux's teacher when she gave her students the assignment to write a poem using the words, "I am," at the beginning of each stanza.
Benjamin is a 14-year-old boy with autism from Plattsburg, New York, who in 2016 at the age of 10, went above and beyond in his assignment by writing a beautiful poem about his experience with Aspergers.
"I am Odd, I am New."
All photos were used with the explicit permission of Benjamin Giroux/Facebook
The poem repeats the phrase, "I am odd, I am new," throughout and details his struggles fitting in with others as a child with autism. It is clear from the beginning that Benjamin understands that he's not like other kids his age.
He acknowledges that this is a struggle for him. His words capture the sadness and isolation one experiences from being different from others, which is very relatable. It's pretty safe to say that every person will feel these emotions at some point in their life.
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All photos were used with the explicit permission of Benjamin Giroux/Facebook
Benjamin's poem captures this emotion perfectly and with mental acuity that is well beyond his years. The poem's final stanza is more hopeful, letting the reader know that he realizes that others feel the same way and that everyone is a little odd in their own way. It is a unique observation that not many children his age would make and gives us a glimpse of what is going on in his head.
All photos were used with the explicit permission of Benjamin Giroux/Facebook
Benjamin's poem was so moving that it caught the eye of the National Autism Association. The organization shared it on their Facebook page, where it has been shared almost 40,000 times. It has raised the awareness of autism and the emotions those who have the condition experience.
The poem has been translated into 20 different languages and has since been turned into a book called, "I am Odd, I am New," published by Schiffer Publishing earlier this year, according to a recent Facebook post by Giroux.
The hashtag #oddtoo has also been associated with it on social media. Sometimes the author finds it difficult to live up to the expectations of his first poem and chooses to express himself through art and music these days.
Pass on this poem with your friends and family to help raise awareness of autism. We need to end the stigma surrounding this disorder that affects so many people around the world and make this world a more accepting and understanding place.