What I'm Grateful for as a Person With Williams Syndrome

Hi everyone, I am Michelle Baymiller and I would like to talk about Williams syndrome.

I was diagnosed when I was 2 years old. I didn’t have any of the serious medical complications that can come with it, and I function well. Still, life for me hasn’t been easy. I struggled through school, got bullied and was told I was never going to graduate. That hurt me the most. I proved everyone wrong in 2006 when I graduated with a diploma. It was the happiest day of my life.

Now I am almost 30, and I’m grateful for all the experiences I’ve had. I am grateful to have been able to travel to different places around the world. I have been to Thailand, China, India, Malaysia, and South Korea, and I enjoyed them. It is not easy traveling when you have a disability, but I figured out you can always ask for help.

Having a disability shouldn’t stop you from following your dreams. I look forward to turning 30 on January 13, and I wonder what the future will hold for me as I navigate through life.