Aida’s Advice on Celebrating Neurodiversity in Ourselves & Others

Impact Story

Aida’s Advice on Celebrating Neurodiversity in Ourselves & Others

Aida Carr, Alumni Keynote Speaker at the 2024 Home Run Event

Hi, my name’s Aida Carr. I went here, to Epiphany, for three years, and it taught me a few things. One, there will always be a person who likes something just as much as you do. Two, they don’t all hate you as soon as you stop looking. Three, being nice gets you a lot more than you think it will.

Speaking of, you know what isn’t nice? Getting called names. People call each other a lot of different rude things for a lot of different rude reasons, but I just want to focus on two today: “stupid” and “annoying.” Now, maybe those words brought back memories for some of you, maybe they didn’t. Maybe other people have called you those things, maybe they haven’t, maybe you’ve called yourself those things. I have. I’m here to tell you that those words have no meaning. None whatsoever.

“Stupid” and “annoying” are just words people say reflexively when someone isn’t doing something fast enough, or they’re too tired to deal with other people at that moment, or someone’s getting too excited about a new movie. People say those words without a single second thought, and you shouldn’t devote a single thought to those words either. They are so much more a reflection of someone else’s bad day than they are of your character or your intelligence.

On the topic of intelligence—guess what? Not understanding algebra isn’t a death sentence to your future career, and neither is feeling like you’re reading a foreign language when you open Shakespeare. Isn’t that a relief? And what’s more, taking a breath and telling yourself that not getting something right away doesn’t mean you’re a failure is the first step to realizing that you can just ask your teacher. Ask any teacher out here today and they’ll tell you they’d be more than happy to walk you through it, and if they make you feel like an idiot while they do it, that’s their problem.

Your brain may not love precalculus or trigonometry, it may not love ten-page essays or The Great Gatsby. Your brain may make you think there are monsters behind you in the dark, it may make you think people you love don’t love you. But if you work with your brain, if you find out what it needs and what makes it want to learn, it can be a powerful ally. If you’re thinking “I have no idea how to do that, how am I supposed to find out what my brain wants?” Then congratulations—me too! You think I know what will persuade me to finish my precalc problems on any given day?

We were not created to be alone. You don’t have to do any of this alone. There are people who are experts in helping those of us with whose wiring in-between the ears is a little off, some of whom are here right now. They love you, and they’re not the only ones. You are loved beyond what is fathomable, even if it’s hard to see.

If you’re thinking you’ve messed up, you’ve hurt people, you’ve said the wrong thing, you’ve bungled friendships—of course you have! Join the club, we’re seven billion strong and counting! That doesn’t change how deeply, incomprehensibly valuable and cherished you are, and it doesn’t change your potential to do incredible things. Find the people who talk to you about the things you love, find the people who make you want to be better, find the people who see the best in you, and your life will be all the richer for it.

Have a wonderful day and God bless.