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This is Me

A poem about a young girl's journey with ASD, exploring the challenges of masking her true identity, and the relief of diagnosis
The default profile picture

Created by Emily Barry

Published on Dec 12, 2023
black and white photo of a girl spinning around
Scott Higdon on Unsplash

A note from the creator: I was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) after years of feeling like I was masking my true self. Here is a poem I wrote about that experience.

 

I have autism

This is me

I’ve been masking

my true identity

 

Autism is a part of me

it makes me, me

This is my reality

 

I’ve felt different all my life

I’ve masked myself

I don’t know why

I haven't been able to be me

until doctors said I’ve got ASD

Now I’m able to drop my mask & just be free

 

I realise now, who should be

a 14-year-old girl with ASD

I am on my new journey

without my mask, which I used to disguise me

I now let everyone see the real me

 

Being different is ok,

but it’s hard to fit in & find friends to stay

because I struggle with what to say

 

School is so hard,

the noises the rules,

to cry in class is against social rules

but I might be getting a chance to do home-school

My life with no fears will be so cool

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