Organized Chaos - Volume 9
I'm Normal by Ashley V.
“You’re not normal, so what makes you think you can do normal things?” Some people may think this way about themselves, which is very disheartening. There is a fine line between normal and abnormal, and to have human flaws is actually more normal than being absolutely perfect. I am a normal person with OCD. I used to be confined by my obsessive compulsive symptoms, and didn’t have the luxury of being able to say that “I’m just like you.” Luckily, things changed.
It may be hard for people with OCD to do things that most people would consider easy. They might not be able to concentrate because of their obsessive thoughts. Getting a job might seem impractical, because so many working environments include exposure to objects that may cause anxiety. However, no matter how hard it may seem, it is possible to overcome these obstacles. I am proof that OCD doesn’t have to confine your life.
This year is probably one of my happiest years, and my life has been increasingly enjoyable since my junior year. Ironically, that was right after my most intense obsessive-compulsive cycles. Anyone with OCD doesn’t need me to explain how I felt, so I am going to focus on positive things.
This year is my senior year in high school. My grades are decent, and I’ve already selected a college. The college has offered me a leadership scholarship, and I’m also applying for as many other scholarships as I can. Learning in school is enjoyable for me, and I keep in mind that inexpensive education from public schools should be respected. I also cherish the fact that I have considerably more friends than I did in previous years. My feeling is that I now fit into a group, instead of just being a “background friend,” as I used to call it.
When I’m not in school, I enjoy going to martial arts classes, Tang Soo Do to be specific. I believe that taking those classes, though only twice a day, has been therapeutic to me. I am more relaxed and focused, and the constant need to keep attention relieves me from my OCD symptoms. Website design is something I also enjoy doing in my free time. Now, I am constructing a website for people who practice the same martial arts style. It is being made to help them with the memorization of forms (a series of techniques) among other things. I don’t just live my life doing things for fun. I also am on my way in the working world.
The job that I have is a bit interesting, because it is a bit uncommon. I decorate donuts for a local shop. I love being around food, and making it is as fun as eating it! Of course, I’m setting my sights a bit higher than being a part-time donut decorator.
Since I was young, I have been focused on the future. I would like to someday be a high school English teacher. I believe that my unique personality and way of seeing things may help to create an entertaining class atmosphere for my students. I also love writing myself, and I will be able to combine my two passions of helping people and studying literature.
I am far form perfect. I have major flaws, maybe more than most people have. This fact doesn’t really bother me, because I can actually feel good about myself because of it. I know that I’m able to overcome obstacles that most people never have to, so I believe that I am a strong person because of it. I am happy that I turned out the way that I did.
