ā€œTroublemakerā€, ā€œDisruptiveā€ said the Teachers.

ā€œGo hang yourself in your garageā€ said the kids.

My son Oscar was bullied for 9 months.

Horrible, racial abuse.

Beaten up every week in Year 8.

We kept a bullying log in a book that every day had things like ā€œgo back to where you came fromā€.

Every racially offensive word under the sun thrown at him at age 13.

He didn’t ā€˜fit in’ at school.

76 detentions in 1 year.

Neurodivergent, Asperger’s, ADHD, ODD, conditions that make him truly brilliant were not recognised or nurtured in school.

He was branded a troublemaker, that would never make it.

This is Oscar interviewing yesterday for 2 different roles.

He’s learning coding, programming and data engineering with his Uncle, he’s upskilling in AI and prompt engineering.

He’s working part-time as a chef whilst he upskills in Python language.

He left school at 16, he got out of education. He’s got a year of work experience behind him now.

Those bullies and those teachers who wrote him off, have lit a fire in this young man.

He’ll be 18 in December. He’s got a gorgeous girlfriend, he’s learning to drive and he’s getting his life plan in place.

He’s got 3, 6 & 12-month goals on his bedroom wall. He’s ticking them off.

His mentors are brilliant, you know who you are.

He’s reading books and listening to podcasts that no 18-year-olds are reading.

He’s self-aware. He’s conscious. He’s respectful.

He’s investing in his future, both financially and emotionally.

He’s beyond brilliant.

I couldn’t be prouder of the man he is becoming.

To anyone who’s got kids that are going through it, being bullied or not fitting in, know that there is an end and that it doesn’t define you.

He’s looking to secure work experience, or a trainee apprenticeship role in a company that hires brilliant minds.

His IQ and brain processing speed is off the scale (his SEN support advisor had seen nothing like it in 20 years).

He’s upskilling and working on gaining the skills he needs. One day he’ll have his own business, I’m sure.

For now he’s learning and growing.

He’s working hard, and overcoming everything he’s been through, his neurodivergence is his superpower.

We’ve had our differences and challenges over the years.

Now he’s a dream son.

Proud Mum moment.

Love you Oscar Rathling 🫶

#resilience #antibullying #youngentrepreneur #neurodiversity