I have had tics my whole life. I temember my first tic was a winking tic. Everything thought i was just being cute because all little kids do weird little things! When i got to the age of 8 i went to hospital with my parents to see someone to see if they could figure out why i was doing these odd movements. The doctor said i didnt have tourettes and that it was just a habbit that i would get over soon. During my early teen years more tics began to show including vocal tics like coughing, sniffling, rasberry noises. And that point my parents knew. it wasnt just some habbit. We tried for 5 years to get me into someone who could help me. At age 16 i got into a doctor who diagnosed me with tourettes syndrome of beginging 2015. I am currently 17 years old. My tics may be a big part of my life as they are getting worse but they do not control my life. Instead i see my tourettes as an advantage. It gives me the gift to be able to relate to others with disabilities and also the gift to teach and bring awareness to people of all ages. My dream is to teach kids that it is okay to be different and to teach them that we are all important and to bring awareness to the syndrome