In the hormonal minds of teenagers, people who are a bit different are targets of bullying, while what is considered "normal" becomes a badge of acceptance. One girl from New Zealand is sick of being bullied for being different, and her powerful oration is making the rounds on the Internet.
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#1 Meet Aiesha
Kiwi 14-year-old Aiesha Ross gave a powerful speech last month, in which she made a startling confession: she has no anus. Born with a congenital abnormality, she lacked nerves in her lower spinal column.
#2 Frequent Surgery
Aiesha also didn't have a uterus, a rectum, and had only one kidney at birth. As a result of various surgeries over the years—accompanied by various hospital stays—she now has a rectum and an anus, though she still requires constant supervision.
Aiesha goes on to explain how her condition has affected her life: she spends a lot of time in the hospital. She can't go to camp outs or sleepovers and she constantly wonders if, because of her infertility, she will ever have a husband or children.
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#3 A Plea
As her voice waivers, Aiesha explains the worst part of her condition. A frequent target of bullying, she has few friends. Her classmates tease her about not being "normal" because she can't have children. She can't stand the sight of herself in the mirror and usually wears clothes that cover her stomach to hide her surgical scars.
Aiesha doesn't want pity. She only wants people to realize that "normal" is an arbitrary term, and that nobody should have to suffer for their inborn differences. She asks her audience to think about the feelings of others and avoid making snarky comments that could cut deeper than expected.
#4 A New Normal
Aiesha ends her speech by declaring "I am the new normal!" It should come as no surprise that she received thunderous applause and that video of the speech has gone viral, attracting accolades around the world. She received a special award for the speech and continues to attract admirers for her bravery.
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