Today on a rainy day I received a call from a teenager who stutters in his first year of college. I first met Brandon when he was approximately 13. I was surprised but so happy to hear his voice. He sounded like a young man and not a kid anymore. He spoke with grace and confidence. He proceeded to tell me that I inspired him to get a job from a you tube video I made on stuttering. I talked about how working helped me overcome my fear of speaking. Sometimes I wonder who watches my videos but now I know.
The truth is Brandon inspired me early on. He was a hard worker with very supportive parents. Stuttering was a challenge but he worked hard not only on the physical aspect of stuttering but the emotional aspect. He appeared on a Fios 1 segment with me. Talking on TV while explaining stuttering is not an easy feat. He was nervous but he did it. He came to support groups and spoke up despite stuttering.
I want to thank him for brightening my day and for working hard for so many years on his fluency. He now wants to help others and I admire that greatly.