At Ad Astra Academies, we know that when students lead, everyone benefits. When they bravely share their personal experiences, eyes are opened, hearts are softened, and communities grow stronger.
That belief came to life during our first Parent Education Series event for our families with children with unique strengths, which we prefer to call superpowers, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia. The series is designed to provide practical strategies for families to help their students thrive at home, at school, and out in the world. But at this first session, it was one of our own students who became the teacher.
Ad Astra high school student Grace Wilson shared a powerful presentation titled “Bent but Not Broken.” With courage and honesty, Grace spoke about living with a hidden disability and what she wishes others understood.
Grace explained that she doesn’t always like sharing her diagnoses because, in her experience, people sometimes look at her differently afterward, as if she is broken and needs to be fixed. Because her superpower is not visible, people may not realize, for example, that she struggles to separate sarcasm (so common among teenagers) from genuine meanness. This can lead to hurt feelings and self-isolation when she believes others are being unkind, even if that was not their intention.
She also described experiencing sensory overload. Too many people, too many noises, too many things touching her at once can all overwhelm her nervous system. These moments of overwhelm can sometimes lead to a meltdown. “It makes me feel bad,” she shared, “and it makes others feel bad, too.” Perhaps most poignantly, Grace told parents, “It’s hard to be in the world when you don’t feel like you belong in that world.”
Grace spoke about finding comfort in communities that acknowledge hidden disabilities. During a recent family trip to England, she discovered the “Sunflower Pass.” Individuals can wear a sunflower lanyard and badge to discreetly signal that they may need understanding, patience, or accommodations. Grace found it especially helpful in busy environments like airports and tourist attractions—places where sensory overload can happen quickly.
Throughout the evening, Grace patiently answered thoughtful questions from Ad Astra parents whose children also have superpowers but who may not yet have the words to describe their struggles. Her openness and self-reflection provided insight, reassurance, and hope for other families.
When asked what one piece of advice she would give the world to make it a more comfortable place in which to exist, Grace didn’t hesitate:
“Just because some people are different doesn’t mean they are broken. We may think differently or do things differently, but sometimes those ways are better.”
Her message was a powerful reminder that "normal" is not a standard to be enforced, but a concept to be expanded. We cannot push our ideas of normalcy (whatever that is) onto others, Grace's parents shared. Instead, we must learn to embrace differences as strengths.
At Ad Astra, we are proud of Grace for leading with quiet vulnerability and strength. In doing so, she reminds us all: bent does not mean broken and understanding can change everything.