As I was preparing my speech, I was trying to pick one of the many profound and famous quotes that have been important to me throughout my life… maybe one from Ruther Bader Ginsburg, Maya Angelou, Aristotle, or even Vin Scully? But the only one that kept coming to mind was a quote from none other than Shrek. Yup… the big green ogre from our childhood, and it goes as follows:
“Ogres are like onions… Onions have layers… Ogres have layers.”
In the film Shrek, Donkey is confused by this proclamation from Shrek. He tries to equate it to cakes or parfaits, but Shrek is adamant about onions and their layers.
So what was Shrek trying to convey? To me, the meaning of this is that there is more to them than what first meets the eye.
I, like Shrek, and all of us, have many layers. We’re more than what meets the eye. I am a student, an athlete, a daughter, a granddaughter, a cousin, a friend, and a big sister.
Everyone has at least one person in their lives who, without hesitation, can make your day a million times better; they bring some sort of light in your life that makes you want to become a better version of yourself each and every day. For me, I have two persons.
When I was four years old, my mom and dad came back from the hospital with my first baby brother Aiden. A year and 19 days later, they came back from the hospital again with my youngest brother Shane. Since then, I knew I had to be the best big sister ever because, to me, they deserve the world.
A few years had passed when my mom and dad explained to me that my brothers experienced the world a little differently from me. At such a young age, Autism was beyond my understanding but I learned quickly that the differences that make them unique are also the very things that make me love and cherish them so much. In turn, those very things that make them unique allow me to see the world in a different way, appreciate the small things, and quite honestly, make me want to be a better human.
Growing up, therapists, who specialized in Autism, would come to our house to help my little brothers with speech and communication. They would teach them in a way that they would grasp and understand. Speaking did not come as naturally to them, so they were taught two to three phrases in sign language. This was their first layer of communication.
One day, one of the therapists brought a box full of wooden letters for my brothers. Aiden fell in love with them right away. It was like a lightbulb went on and at the age of 2, without speaking much, he could spell out words like “Ratatouille” and “Nickelodeon” with ease.
Another time the therapist came with a whiteboard and markers, and that caught Shane’s attention right away. He began to draw the logos of movie production companies - you know the kind you see at the end of the credits in movies. The logos that he would draw were identical to the real ones, even down to the font.
With just wooden letters, a whiteboard, and markers, my brothers found opportunities to express themselves in a way they understood best. They had shown the world their first of many layers: they both have photographic memories and use this gift in different ways every day.
My brothers still have challenges, but when you really get to know them, you’re able to see all of their wonderful layers.
Our family, from day one, has always focused on opportunities, perseverance, and abilities… instead of focusing on deficiencies and disabilities. My mom and dad taught my brothers and I that opportunities are abundant in everyday life - if you look for them. Opportunities to learn something new, to improve a skill or behavior, to find and discover new “layers” within ourselves.
This last year and a half wasn’t easy for anyone. We all faced uncertainty, and sometimes anxious moments, that brought about unforeseen hardships. But because we have a foundation of resilience, that steadfast mindset of getting through things despite those difficulties, we push through and we end up finding more layers within ourselves.
So, to my brothers, thank you for teaching me to be resilient and honest always. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleaders and best life coaches. I hope that I have taught you as much as you’ve taught me.