My name is Thomas John Bopp and I am an 18 year old boy who has just graduated from High School. I have Aspergers Autism. And this, this is my story...

I was born on July 14, 1992 at 7:17pm in Mineloa, New York. I weighted in at 1 pound, 9 ounces, 12 inches long. Doctors tole me I only had 24 hours to live. But my mother and my father both prayed that I made it through the night. The next day, my mother and father were told that because of my physical condition, I had to stay in the hospital until I gained some weight. So I stayed in the hospital for 3 months, with my mother staying right by my side in the hospital until the day I lefted the hospital in her arms.

I could not talk until I was 3 or 4 years old. I was also deaf in my ears until I was six because of fliuds in my ears that was blocking my ear drums. The first thing I ever heard was an airplane. I turned to my father who was with me waiting for the School Bus with me and I said," What is that sound?" My father said, "That is an airplane, Tommy."

At the beginning of the 2006 School Year, I started my frist year of High School. For these next 4 years I would have challenges up ahead for me. I was diagonsed with autism at age of 16. Finally, On the 26th of June of 2010, the day where all the doctors said I would never get the chance to do, I walked the graduation line and I got my High School Diploma. I am now 18 years old and I am attending college for Computerized Accounting.

"People have to face death and fear in the face to become stronger"
-Thomas J. Bopp
William Floyd High School
Graduation Speech
26 JULY 2010