HIGHLY DECORATED: Matthew has been a commander for Royal Rangers since 2013, and was awarded the Gold Medal of Achievement which took 10 years of perseverance to earn. He is now leading and training boys at the age he once was, including some boys who also have Autism.
I do not say that everybody has to do exactly what I do. I am simply saying that everybody has a unique skill set and different levels of proficiency per skill. In my Be Number One analogy, I tell several people to be number one. Being number one should be viewed as a rank of which anybody can achieve. My definition of being number one is that you persevere in your goals, and never give up in obtaining those goals. Be the best that you can. Do not set standards based on other people, but base them on yourself. I tell people that if I was driven by jealousy, then I would not be here today.
In conclusion, I am hoping that my life will encourage nearly everyone on earth and the next generations. I am a proponent of not just Autism Awareness, but Autism Acceptance and Appreciation. I contend that once everybody puts aside their differences and competitions, comes together, holds civilized conversations, and makes others feel included, then this world will be a better place.
Disability or not, anybody can do whatever they set their heart and mind to do. Do not judge a book by its cover. I am quoted as saying, "behind the disability, we have a heart." •
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matthew Kenslow has grown up with a form of autism that was once referred to as Asperger's syndrome. Life has been an adventure as he pieced together all of his surroundings amid both praises and taunts. His mission is to teach others from a firsthand perspective about how people with autism interpret things differently from the rest of the world. He feels he has been blessed with the gifts to juggle, play piano and recall facts about the American presidents, geography, science and mathematics. He juggles at elementary schools and encourages the students to never give up on their passions. He has earned the Gold Medal of Achievement (which is equivalent to the rank of Eagle Scout) through Royal Rangers, a program he has been in since he was 5. Now, he is giving back to children and teenagers, teaching and mentoring them in a wide set of skills and knowledge. He graduated from Orange Coast College with an Associate of Science degree in Chemistry and with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Vanguard University of Southern California. He aspires to be a middle school math teacher. Recently, he earned a full math credential after student teaching Enhanced Mathematics at his former middle school, Ensign Intermediate School. Currently, he is going for a Master of Arts degree in Education at Vanguard University and is an employed substitute teacher for NMUSD, often being called by students as "the best sub" and begged by them to come back the next day or to sub for their class soon.
