Being autistic is not about living in a vacuum, sucking in everything around you, living in an existence shutout from your environment. Instead, the environment becomes more real, more painful, more evident.

Benjamin Giroux, a 10-year-old boy from Plattsburgh, New York, has Asperger’s syndrome – a form of autism. His school assignment was to write a poem titled “I Am.” Given the first two words in every sentence, Benjamin took the opportunity to express his emotions.

“I Am” by Benjamin Giroux: I am odd, I am new I wonder if you are too I hear voices in the air I see you don’t, and that’s not fair I want to not feel blue I am odd, I am new I pretend that you are too I feel like a boy in outerspace I touch the stars and feel out of place I worry what others might think I cry when people laugh, it makes me shrink I am odd, I am new I understand now that so are you I say I, “feel like a castaway” I dream of a day that that’s okay I try to fit in I hope that someday I do I am odd, I am new.

Benjamin’s heartfelt poem gained attention and went viral. Even the National Autism Association shared it, recognizing its importance in raising awareness and fostering empathy.

To Benjamin: You are not odd, beautiful boy; you are EXACTLY what our world needs—beautiful, pure hearts.