For the most part, school was a painful, lonely experience for Matthew Senn.
He was excluded, bullied, tormented.
But from that experience came a gift to help other people who find themselves 香蕉视频直播� or have found themselves 香蕉视频直播� in similar situations. It香蕉视频直播檚 also for those who want to learn more about people like Senn. Teachers, for instance, or parents or friends.
The gift comes in the form of a graphic novel.
Senn, 22, moved to Salmon Arm from Malakwa when he was eight, where the struggle to make new friends was overwhelming.
香蕉视频直播淔rom Grade 3 to Grade 10, that was the hardest. It was pretty difficult香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檇 have the occasional person who was nice to me. Every now and then things would be okay. On the whole, things were pretty hard.香蕉视频直播�
Kids in school knew how to push his buttons and get a reaction, he says.
香蕉视频直播淭hey grind your gears and you香蕉视频直播檙e steaming mad.香蕉视频直播�
Then he might yell or threaten 香蕉视频直播� and get in trouble. And it would start all over again.
香蕉视频直播淛ust all the little things adding up, that was really tough. Not being invited to go somewhere or something like that. Excluded a lot. Being made fun of or whatever. They just egged me on, you know.香蕉视频直播�
Consequently, he didn香蕉视频直播檛 say much in class or actively participate.
He says his parents tried to help him but no one could figure out exactly why things were the way they were.
Life finally changed for him in the summer of Grade 10. He was diagnosed with Asperger香蕉视频直播檚 Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism.
香蕉视频直播淔or me, that was like a big sigh of relief. 香蕉视频直播極h, that香蕉视频直播檚 why I香蕉视频直播檓 like that, that香蕉视频直播檚 why things are the way they are. I can use that to understand, to figure me out.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
Although he香蕉视频直播檚 intelligent, Senn explains that he香蕉视频直播檚 also very logical 香蕉视频直播� and people are very illogical. One of his biggest challenges is understanding subtexts and subtleties.
香蕉视频直播淭here are so many social things and unwritten rules. 香蕉视频直播榃ell why do you do that? That doesn香蕉视频直播檛 make sense.香蕉视频直播�
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For the next three years he worked with a therapist who helped him understand social interactions and gave him strategies for dealing with them.
He also made a best friend and, in Grade 11, let his classmates know about Asperger香蕉视频直播檚.
Although things were still hard, they began to slowly change.
香蕉视频直播淓ye contact is still something I struggle with today. Where to look and how much. How to keep people happy. These are things I still think about today.香蕉视频直播�
Relating to people with autism, some with Asperger香蕉视频直播檚, was helpful.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if we bonded together, but we shared similar interests. Even if I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 interested, I could say, 香蕉视频直播業 see where you香蕉视频直播檙e coming from香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 We get each other.香蕉视频直播�
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One activity that香蕉视频直播檚 been an oasis, a steadfast source of enjoyment for Senn since Grade 4, has been drawing.
He香蕉视频直播檚 particularly enjoyed drawing comics and, in Grade 11, started writing more.
The idea for the comic that is now his graphic novel came when he heard about a guy who wrote stories that weren香蕉视频直播檛 for anyone else. He wrote what he would have liked to have read.
Senn decided that he香蕉视频直播檇 like to create a comic for introverted people. He was further inspired when he went to a comic convention in Calgary where he asked a lot of practical questions.
香蕉视频直播淚 got lots of good advice, but probably the best one I got was, 香蕉视频直播榡ust do it. Just start doing it and you香蕉视频直播檒l learn the most that way.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
Over the course of three years, with lots of trial and error, he created his graphic novel entitled, Quiet.
With beautiful bright drawings and a striking cover, it香蕉视频直播檚 about a girl named Claire. She is very shy and introverted and is attending her first semester of college in a new town.
香蕉视频直播淚t follows her and her efforts to try and make friends in this environment and try to get through it,香蕉视频直播� Senn says, explaining it draws from some of his experiences in his two years at Okanagan College.
香蕉视频直播淚t makes it kind of relatable, it香蕉视频直播檚 based on reality.香蕉视频直播�
Prior to enrolling at the Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna where he is now enjoying a 2-D animation course, Senn contacted a publishing company.
Quiet is now available at Bookingham Palace in Salmon Arm, as well as at Mosaic Books and Okanagan Sports Card and Comic Shop, both in Kelowna.
It香蕉视频直播檚 also available online through FriesenPress Bookstore, Mosaic Books and Amazon.
Regarding his current studies, Senn says he香蕉视频直播檚 fitting in.
香蕉视频直播淚t was a long process to get there. Now I can maybe figure out what people are thinking or take a guess. Maybe I香蕉视频直播檓 right; before I had no clue.香蕉视频直播�
Senn knows he could have used a book like the one he香蕉视频直播檚 created; he香蕉视频直播檚 hopeful it will make a difference for someone else.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 incredible who you香蕉视频直播檒l connect with when you have something in common and you understand where they香蕉视频直播檙e coming from. That香蕉视频直播檚 what I want this book to be 香蕉视频直播� a connection.香蕉视频直播�
A Walk for Autism, an awareness and fundraising walk, will be held on Monday, April 2, starting at the Ross Street Plaza in Salmon Arm.
Preregistration is at 12:30, walk starts at 1 p.m. Call 1-888-508-3028, ext. 101 for more details.
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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