Alex
Beneficiary, Opportunity & Enterprise, The Prince’s Trust
I have a form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome. Before I’d even started in Year 9, I’d already been excluded from school twice. I was a real menace and a bit of a loner. I was teased a lot and bullied too, and sometimes I would lash out at people.
My mum really wanted me to start behaving myself and do well at school but nothing motivated me…until I joined the xl club. It made all the difference to me. Miss Barton, the xl adviser, was kind, patient and understood me. I learnt to interact with other people and manage my temper.
I have won a few awards and am predicted to get high grades in my GCSEs. I want to be a construction worker and am working hard to get the right qualifications now.
However, if this doesn’t work I might become a superstar. I was performing a rap for the school’s X Factor competition and noticed a group of girls in the front row who had written my name on their school shirts! My headteacher didn’t seem very impressed, but I was! I’m pretty popular at school now and am considered a bit of a legend.
