Nick's Journey

The Past Three Years..

In autumn 2021, Nick began exhibiting tics symptoms, which significantly affected his piano practice.

In the beginning, I had always felt frustrated by the tics, not knowing what they were. But now that I understood, I could take steps to improve my body and reduce these symptoms. Sadly, I, on the other hand, was also depressed because I was only seven years old and the symptom would jerk my body for days.

This impacted my piano because I was constantly distracted when playing. My hands often played the wrong notes while playing different pieces of music. The movements resulted in unsophisticated music, and I had no idea how to cope with such an insurmountable symptom.

I knew I couldn’t play the piano for a while, no matter how much I wanted to.

In the winter of 2021, Nick had to stop playing piano, but his love for music inspired him to try the violin in 2022 summer. However, it turned out to be an even greater challenge for him.

I felt discouraged, but I knew I had to keep going. I practiced the violin almost every day, trying to learn how to control my jerky movements while playing. Instead of improving, my tics seemed to deteriorate. Every time I touched the strings, my hands would jerk uncontrollably, creating strange, uneven sounds. It was frustrating and upsetting, but I refused to let my tics take over. I kept pushing forward because playing music meant so much to me.

It was hard to feel like my own body was holding me back from something I loved so deeply. I started experimenting with different ways to adjust my practice—slowing down, playing shorter pieces, and even watching myself in the mirror to figure out how to work with my movements. I also changed my diet and made an effort to get more sleep, hoping it might help calm my body.

This was a pivotal time in my life, one where I felt torn between wanting to be like every other kid and realizing I wasn’t. I just wanted to be normal, to do the things other kids could do without even thinking. But I knew I couldn’t escape my tics—they were a part of me. Even so, I didn’t let them stop me from trying.

Playing music was too important to give up on, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could keep going, no matter how difficult it was.

The autumn of 2023 was an especially difficult time for Nick. His tics became so challenging to deal with that he missed several days of school and even faced complaints from some classmates. Thankfully, with the support and understanding of his teacher, he was eventually able to return to school.

I felt sad and frustrated that my classmates didn’t respect what made me unique, but I held on to the hope that one day I would grow out of my tics. It was hard to face the complaints and comments they made about me. I felt different, and in a way that made me feel isolated.

Still, I worked on ignoring the negativity and staying patient with others, even when it was tough. While some saw my tics as a problem, my friends never did—they treated me just like everyone else, unlike the cruel way some others viewed me.

Luckily, my teacher was also supportive and kind. She always made sure I felt comfortable and even gave me the option to sit in a quieter, more independent spot when I needed it. One day, with my permission, she took the time to explain my tics to the class, helping them understand what I was going through. She told them that one day, I would overcome this challenge, and her words made a big difference.

After her explanation, my classmates began to understand me better and stopped complaining. They started accepting me for who I truly was. With the support of my teacher, my friends, and my own determination, I started to feel more confident. Over time, I even began experiencing fewer tics, and I felt like I could finally focus on being myself.

In 2024, Nick is feeling much better and has successfully joined SYSO, even performing in a recital. He decided to share his story to inspire and support other kids facing similar challenges.

This year, something amazing happened - I was experiencing fewer tics! Because I love music so much, I kept going, and now I’m playing the violin better than ever. It wasn’t always easy, though.

When my tics were really bad, I felt so frustrated and sad, especially since playing the violin is something I care about so much. But I didn’t want my tics to stop me, so I kept trying my best. Over time, things got better, and that made me want to keep going even more. Now, I’m really proud of myself for not giving up, and I hope my story can inspire other kids who are going through the same thing.

If I feel brave enough, I could even explain my tics myself, letting people know that it’s something I can’t control - it just happens. Once people understand, I think they might accept me more and even help others understand too. Teaching others about my tics could make them kinder, not just to me but to anyone else who might have tics like mine.