Here is my 'Life in the Day of Jonathan Smithies'.My mum usually wakes me up at around 6:30 am because I have to walk tothe bus at 7:30. When I wake up I turn my fan
A Life in the Day [IMAGE]My name is Jonathan Smithies and I am 14 years old. I go to school atAltwood C of E Secondary; I am very happy there and I have lots offriends. Here is my ‘Life in the Day of Jonathan Smithies’.My mum usually wakes me up at around 6:30 am because I have to walk tothe bus at 7:30. When I wake up I turn my fan on so as to keep cool,that’s one of life’s problems for me; I am always too hot. I prefer toget up with plenty of time so that I have time simply to be, beforegoing into school. I don’t like to rush. It takes me about five to tenminutes to rouse myself and properly awake. Another thing about me isI find it really hard to get myself out of bed on weekdays. Atweekends I get up really early, probably because I know I have a wholeday ahead of me (quite different to other teenagers), and on schooldays it is quite the contrary, I would love to lie in, but as fatewould have it, that’s impossible. My school uniform is already on mychair (I lay it out the previous night), I get dressed and washed andgo downstairs to have my breakfast. I always eat the same breakfastfor about six months and then I’ll change and have something else. Atthe moment I’m having a hot cross bun with lots of strawberry jam andtropical juice. This is all part of having Obsessive CompulsiveDisorder, the hot cross bun needs cutting into quarters, top andbottom; it needs to be on the same bread board if possible and thesame amount of jam on each half. There
are lots of other things thatneed to be done in a very specific and ordered way too, this can takea lot of time and be very frustrating. I always have my drink in mysports container. I find this embarrassing to tell people as it seemsa bit babyish, but without it, I would spill it all over the floor.This brings me on to the fact that I have a neurological disordercalled Tourette Syndrome. This means that I may jerk uncontrollablyand shout out wherever most inconvenient. Sometimes I am unaware ofdoing this and say, “I did well in that lift, no screaming ...
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are lots of other things thatneed to be done in a very specific and ordered way too, this can takea lot of time and be very frustrating. I always have my drink in mysports container. I find this embarrassing to tell people as it seemsa bit babyish, but without it, I would spill it all over the floor.This brings me on to the fact that I have a neurological disordercalled Tourette Syndrome. This means that I may jerk uncontrollablyand shout out wherever most inconvenient. Sometimes I am unaware ofdoing this and say, “I did well in that lift, no screaming at all”,but actually there was. Some people may well think I’m weird but, Idon’t care; I’m proud of who I am and am not afraid to tell peoplewhat the problem is. They need educating!!When breakfast is finished I watch a bit of television and get readyto leave.Goodbyes are said to Mum Dad and my sister and I walk to the bus stopjust down our road. Our coach journey takes around 30 minutes and wearrive at Altwood usually at around 8.15. Our coach has leather seats– ugh – they make me far too hot in the summer. I’ll never buy a carwith leather seats when I’m older, I just can’t bare it! I say‘cheers’ to the coach driver and walk into school.I congregate with my friends at about 8:25am and hang around chattingwith them until the bell goes for registration. I would say I havefirm friendships with them. Before we go to registration we arrange ameeting place for break depending on where our lessons are. Next isregistration.My form tutor is Mr Leonard and I sit at the edge of the room, thebest place for me so that if my tics get bad standing up is possible,thereby not bothering other people much. I share a table with David(he’s alright); Isabella and Jamie sit in front, both of whom are myfriends. Mr Leonard calls the register and we move on to our firstlesson. This time is fun, I get to talk to the people in my tutorgroup and that is always a good time.The first lesson on Monday is science with Mr. Witney. At least theweek starts with my favourite lesson. I think I’ll probably go intosomething science related when I’m older, certainly not languages,I’ve dropped those already. At my table are my LSA, Mr. Ng, Isabella,Sam, Laura and Hazel. I really enjoy science. Tourette Syndrome meansthat there are times when I am unable to write or use a computerbecause my tics (jerky movements) are so severe; I am fortunate tohave LSA’s in lessons with me at these times, without them it would beimpossible to get anything done.At break time I hang around with Chris, Matt and Smiley. If for anyreason they weren’t here, I wouldn’t stay on my own, I’d find thegroup mentioned earlier and a few other boys. Also, by this time inthe morning there is a definite biscuit shaped hole in my stomach. IfI don’t have a biscuit in my rucksack there will be a need to go tothe canteen and buy a chocolate cookie for 40p – quite a lot don’t youthink for a small cookie!French is the next lesson, but having dropped that I go to thelibrary, a place often used if there is no one else to be with. Books,computers, careers advice to be looked through, that’s my kind ofplace to spend an hour. Even if there is nothing of specific interestin the library I will still rummage through the bookshelves lookingfor something that might catch my eye. Now there is just one morelesson to sit through before the rumbling in my stomach can cease. Atleast Geography isn’t dull and boring like French. If I can get to the canteen soon enough, there might be a tableoutside, or Chris might have beaten me there and saved a seat. A roll,always with the same filling and fruit cake is my usual lunch. There’snothing quite like Mum’s fruitcake to see me through the afternoon.My afternoon lessons on a Monday are History and ICT, both of theseare interesting but unless I have an LSA to help me write any lessonfeels a waste of time. How can I possibly remember what has been doneif nothing is written down?The bus journey home is hot and uncomfortable. The first thing tohappen when I get home is take off my uniform and change intosomething cooler, get a cold drink and a piece of cake or fruit, sitdown and flick on the TV. Our dog Amber gives me a boisterous greetingand sits close by ever hopeful of crumbs.On a good day I won’t have any homework, but when homework assignmentsare set I find it hard to get motivated and start off. Once in themood or if something inspires me I get engrossed in it and wish itwere possible to complete it all without help. Sometimes I have towait for Mum to write for me, and by then I might have lost interest.Dinner isn’t late; it is usually over by six, so I am ready to watchSimpsons or Friends. A favourite meal is chicken tikka masala and riceor mum’s unique turkey and ham flan. There is only one slight problemwith mealtimes and that is the amount of china that can get broken ifI’m left alone with my plate and cutlery for company. Involuntary ticscan cause major destruction!!Once homework is complete I might get my bike out or take Amber for awalk around the block, or if there’s nothing better to do I might sitand watch a film, preferably an exciting and fast moving one. If thefilm doesn’t go the way I want it to, tension builds up, and this Ifind hard to cope with.My bedtime routine never changes much, pyjamas, wash, teeth, into bedand music on; sleep sometimes comes quickly, sometimes not, but whenit comes it is usually uninterrupted and dreamless. How boring isthat? I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have “exciting”dreams. Maybe I should eat more cheese!!Looking towards the future, it is my aspiration to get a place in auniversity studying zoology. I am hoping to become a zoologicalscientist and I am determined to achieve that aim whatever dilemmasmay enter my path, Tourette’s being the prime obstacle. I havestruggled through a number of hard times in my life due to thisdisorder and am willing to persevere until hopefully it improves. Ifit doesn’t, although often in late teens-early twenties it does, thenmy future might be more unbearable than I’ve ever dreamed, but so longas I have good, supporting friends and family and lots ofencouragement I am in no doubt that I will succeed in my career.