by Ricardo Zermeno
Hi, my name is Ricardo Zermeno. I am 16 years old. I have stuttered ever since I can remember. A lot of times, I wonder how my life would be without my stuttering.
I used to hate myself very much because of the way I am. I used to stutter and mumble every word. People used to tell me to talk in Spanish because they thought I didn't speak any English at all. It bothered me and I would say, "I'm sorry I stutter." I now realize that I shouldn't say sorry to people when I stutter because I haven't done anything wrong.
I also shouldn't feel sorry for myself and think negative things. I used to pray to God that he would take away my life, but I was wrong by asking that because life is, and can be so beautiful, with stuttering.
I used to go inside my room and start crying and pray that God would put someone in front of me on this road of sadness to stop this endless suffering. God did hear my voice and sent someone special to me who has put a halt to my sadness.
That very special person is my speech therapist Melinda Oroz. She is the coolest person I have ever met. She has been very dedicated to me. She was the one that told me that I shouldn't tell people that I'm sorry because I stutter. I thank her very much and I don't know how I can ever repay her.
The NSA is a very good thing and can help you if you put your mind to it. The first time I went to an NSA chapter meeting I was very nervous, but I still volunteered to get up there and talk in front of people I didn't even know. I got up in front of these people because I was feeling touched by what they were saying and how they were saying it.
Now, I'm starting to talk very freely around other people that don't know me, and I ask them any question that comes to my mind. I'm starting to make phone calls now.
I used to have a great fear of talking on the phone and asking questions. Because of the NSA I've learned that it doesn't matter if I stutter a lot. What matters is that the person whom I'm talking to knows what I'm trying to say.
The NSA is a place in which you feel comfortable talking and the people in there don't judge you. They will pay attention and even show you that they understand you. It's really cool being in the NSA because I can share how I feel inside about my Stuttering.
I love it when my friends or other people ask me about my stuttering. They even like the way I talk. My friends and other people say that I'm a very playful and joyful person, and I don't let my stuttering run over me.
I even entered a contest at school named Mr. Colonist and I can't wait for it. I have to talk on stage during lunch, and I'm not going to let my stuttering stop me. I've learned that stuttering is part of my life and I should accept myself because my stuttering has made me the way I am. I love sports, and I am the starting receiver and cornerback for my high school football team, and I even kick some serious rear-ends out there. So don't let your stuttering run you over. It may take a while until you start accepting yourself.
People who stutter have a great gift, but you have to find it within your heart. It make take a while to find it, but always think positive. We have to overpower and step over our monster, cause if not, the monster will overpower and step over us.
Always have faith and trust in yourself, because if you don't have faith and trust in yourself who will? You're the only one that can change everything you want to change within yourself.
Ricky is 16 years old and plays wide receiver and cornerback for his football team at Anaheim high school in California. He also regularly attends the Orange County chapter meetings. |
