Vincent

After listening to the story of Vincent, I felt a deep personal connection to the story, a family friend of ours is autistic and it amazed me how I was able to relate him to Vincent. They both have there lives planed out for them every day, but are truly amazing people, Vincent’s ability to remember anything having to do with movies co-insides with our family friends ability to name all of the presidents forward and backward. This story made me think, why do we treat people like Vincent so differently? No one seems to know if they know they are different or not, they just assume that they are don’t and act like they are, leaving them no control, not even on how to look at themselves. Vincent’s story made me a little upset, the idea of not being able to run your own life is one that I myself have experienced, and is hard to go through, let alone watch anyone else go through. The beginning of the story, when one of the speakers finds out he is so very different from the rest of his peers, was a very emotional part of the story, being different isn’t easy, especially when you are told from teachers and authoritative figures that you are forced to respect that your different, it is a harsh and cold reality that is difficult for anyone to face. The part of the story, when, Vincent’s parents and siblings helping him to get through his days, was a part of the story that actually made me think of University, the way Vincent’s parents and siblings were able to the there for him, and support him, reminded me so much of the environment so embedded in our brains here at university. Vincent’s mom reminded me of our mentors, the way she is there for him every day and helps to guide him through life. The way Vincent’s mom helps him daily is a show of true compassion and is a very inspiring aspect of a somewhat sad story Vincent’s mother is someone who could very easily be looked up too, the way she devotes so much time to her son is a show of true love and caring. Vincent quitting his job and everything else in his life, if not explained through a chemical imbalance, could very understandably be that he wanted SOMETHING to control in his life. Not being able to live your life the way you want it something that no one should have to go through, the power to make a decision about your own life is something America stands on, and yet many people take it for granted, it takes someone like Vincent, who only wants a little control, to remind us how lucky we really are.