Who do not like to look younger? I think I am the only person who does not like that, and may be any person whose facial features like mine may have the same feeling. I would not mind if people thought that I am younger due to my appearance, but the problem is they are treating me like a real child. “Stop treating me like a child or like a weak person”, that’s what I want to say to people who always smile to me and pat on my shoulder. I can think and I can serve myself. It is true that I do things slowly to some extent and I take time to learn but at last I can do things well. I always hear sentences like “let me do it for you, you cannot do it”, “do you want me to accompany you? Are you afraid?” or “Let me help you, can you do it yourself? Why do people have pity on me?!I It is true that I am different but I am a pro swimmer, I find my happiness and passion in competitions, in breaking barriers and in gaining national and international medals. Do you know why? Because I prove that I can. I was able to study in an ordinary school, I have the American Diploma. Now, I am studying in a great university and I have completed the second year of my study in business administration section. Next year I will have major in sports management because I can. After graduation, I wish to have a job and to see my Down Syndrome colleagues graduated and having jobs in which they can show their skills. Our disability does not hinder us from achievements. It is the society that sets barriers for us. If all universities accept and encourage inclusion of students who can continue their education and if companies provide jobs that suits Dawn Syndrome persons and have confidence in their abilities, everything will be different and this will help Dawn Syndrome persons to develop their abilities. We are more accurate and more organized than any other persons. If people looked on us differently, appreciated our skills and believed in our ability, the society will be completely different.

I like to communicate, to go out and to talk with people but l love people who try to understand me and who love me for my own not people who love me out of pity for my disability.

I support Atta Fund and I ask you to support them because they hold inclusion and awareness projects and they help schools to receive Dawn Syndrome students as they helped me and enabled me to break a lot of barriers. You can also help us break the barriers, so that everyone, even if different, can gain his rights.