For the most part, school was a painful, lonely experience for Matthew Senn.
He was excluded, bullied, tormented.
But from that experience came a gift to help other people who find themselves 害羞草研究所� or have found themselves 害羞草研究所� in similar situations. It害羞草研究所檚 also for those who want to learn more about people like Senn. Teachers, for instance, or parents or friends.
The gift comes in the form of a graphic novel.
Senn, 22, moved to Salmon Arm from Malakwa when he was eight, where the struggle to make new friends was overwhelming.
害羞草研究所淔rom Grade 3 to Grade 10, that was the hardest. It was pretty difficult害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檇 have the occasional person who was nice to me. Every now and then things would be okay. On the whole, things were pretty hard.害羞草研究所�
Kids in school knew how to push his buttons and get a reaction, he says.
害羞草研究所淭hey grind your gears and you害羞草研究所檙e steaming mad.害羞草研究所�
Then he might yell or threaten 害羞草研究所� and get in trouble. And it would start all over again.
害羞草研究所淛ust all the little things adding up, that was really tough. Not being invited to go somewhere or something like that. Excluded a lot. Being made fun of or whatever. They just egged me on, you know.害羞草研究所�
Consequently, he didn害羞草研究所檛 say much in class or actively participate.
He says his parents tried to help him but no one could figure out exactly why things were the way they were.
Life finally changed for him in the summer of Grade 10. He was diagnosed with Asperger害羞草研究所檚 Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism.
害羞草研究所淔or me, that was like a big sigh of relief. 害羞草研究所極h, that害羞草研究所檚 why I害羞草研究所檓 like that, that害羞草研究所檚 why things are the way they are. I can use that to understand, to figure me out.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Although he害羞草研究所檚 intelligent, Senn explains that he害羞草研究所檚 also very logical 害羞草研究所� and people are very illogical. One of his biggest challenges is understanding subtexts and subtleties.
害羞草研究所淭here are so many social things and unwritten rules. 害羞草研究所榃ell why do you do that? That doesn害羞草研究所檛 make sense.害羞草研究所�
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For the next three years he worked with a therapist who helped him understand social interactions and gave him strategies for dealing with them.
He also made a best friend and, in Grade 11, let his classmates know about Asperger害羞草研究所檚.
Although things were still hard, they began to slowly change.
害羞草研究所淓ye contact is still something I struggle with today. Where to look and how much. How to keep people happy. These are things I still think about today.害羞草研究所�
Relating to people with autism, some with Asperger害羞草研究所檚, was helpful.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know if we bonded together, but we shared similar interests. Even if I wasn害羞草研究所檛 interested, I could say, 害羞草研究所業 see where you害羞草研究所檙e coming from害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶛 We get each other.害羞草研究所�
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One activity that害羞草研究所檚 been an oasis, a steadfast source of enjoyment for Senn since Grade 4, has been drawing.
He害羞草研究所檚 particularly enjoyed drawing comics and, in Grade 11, started writing more.
The idea for the comic that is now his graphic novel came when he heard about a guy who wrote stories that weren害羞草研究所檛 for anyone else. He wrote what he would have liked to have read.
Senn decided that he害羞草研究所檇 like to create a comic for introverted people. He was further inspired when he went to a comic convention in Calgary where he asked a lot of practical questions.
害羞草研究所淚 got lots of good advice, but probably the best one I got was, 害羞草研究所榡ust do it. Just start doing it and you害羞草研究所檒l learn the most that way.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Over the course of three years, with lots of trial and error, he created his graphic novel entitled, Quiet.
With beautiful bright drawings and a striking cover, it害羞草研究所檚 about a girl named Claire. She is very shy and introverted and is attending her first semester of college in a new town.
害羞草研究所淚t follows her and her efforts to try and make friends in this environment and try to get through it,害羞草研究所� Senn says, explaining it draws from some of his experiences in his two years at Okanagan College.
害羞草研究所淚t makes it kind of relatable, it害羞草研究所檚 based on reality.害羞草研究所�
Prior to enrolling at the Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna where he is now enjoying a 2-D animation course, Senn contacted a publishing company.
Quiet is now available at Bookingham Palace in Salmon Arm, as well as at Mosaic Books and Okanagan Sports Card and Comic Shop, both in Kelowna.
It害羞草研究所檚 also available online through FriesenPress Bookstore, Mosaic Books and Amazon.
Regarding his current studies, Senn says he害羞草研究所檚 fitting in.
害羞草研究所淚t was a long process to get there. Now I can maybe figure out what people are thinking or take a guess. Maybe I害羞草研究所檓 right; before I had no clue.害羞草研究所�
Senn knows he could have used a book like the one he害羞草研究所檚 created; he害羞草研究所檚 hopeful it will make a difference for someone else.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 incredible who you害羞草研究所檒l connect with when you have something in common and you understand where they害羞草研究所檙e coming from. That害羞草研究所檚 what I want this book to be 害羞草研究所� a connection.害羞草研究所�
A Walk for Autism, an awareness and fundraising walk, will be held on Monday, April 2, starting at the Ross Street Plaza in Salmon Arm.
Preregistration is at 12:30, walk starts at 1 p.m. Call 1-888-508-3028, ext. 101 for more details.
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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