What I’ve learned – Aryan Menon

Aryan MenonAbout the Author:

Aryan Menon is twelve years old and lives in Austin, Texas, USA. He recently began seventh grade and enjoys taking guitar lessons and playing percussion in the school band. He also really likes listening to 70s & 80s rock music. His favorite bands are Poison, ACDC, Queen, Van Halen, & KISS!

Aryan is a kid who stutters and has learned that his stuttering is not a big deal!

He created this poster with his speech therapist – Ms. Jaime.

Text on challenges and strengths

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Comments

What I’ve learned – Aryan Menon — 32 Comments

  1. I really love your poster Aryan! Thanks for sharing both the strengths and challenges of stuttering for you. I can’t wait to show this in a group for young people who stutter that we’ll be holding on ISAD. I think it will be cool for them to know that there are others out there who get it!

    • Hi Nic-
      We want to thank you for your kind words! Aryan says he’s really excited at the thought of other kids his age who stutter looking at it and sharing their feedback as well!
      Best,
      Aryan (and Jaime)

  2. Aryan,
    LOVE this poster! Your challenges and strengths are very informative because I think other kids (and adults) could learn from this poster! I like how you talked about stuttering being tiring (because it definitely can be), but it’s so great that you have supportive friends and family! You are seriously brave and I thank you so much for sharing this poster with the world!

    • Hi Amanda-
      Thanks so much for your supportive comment! Aryan says he’s really hoping that his poster will help other kids feel more comfortable talking about their stuttering too!
      Best,
      Aryan (and Jaime)

  3. Aryan,
    You brought up so many great points! I agree that stuttering does not have to be a big deal, and it’s awesome you have so many supportive family and friends.

  4. It’s a simple yet powerful arrangment of visual elements that you put the strengths bigger than challenges.

    • Thanks! It was all Aryan’s idea to make the strengths bigger – as he saw them as the most important part of the poster.
      Best,
      ~Jaime

  5. Aryan, you did a fantastic job creating this poster! You shared powerful reflections on what it’s like to stutter—the challenges and, even more importantly, the strengths. You have learned that stuttering is just one small part of who you are, and that it doesn’t stop you from being brave, kind, and confident. Way to go, Aryan!

  6. Your poster is so awesome Aryan! It can be used to show so many other kids your age that may have the same feelings towards stuttering and that their feelings are so valid. I love your positivity and that you have such a great support system behind you!

    • Thanks, Sarah!
      Aryan is planning to work with his SLP at school to find a way to print his poster out and hang it up so that his classmates can see it too!
      Best,
      Jaime (and Aryan)

  7. This poster does a great job showing both the challenges and strengths of living with stuttering. It’s honest, empowering, and reminds us that stuttering is just one part of a person—not a limitation.

  8. Great poster, Aryan, but most importantly, thank you for the courage to share it with the world! – Ana Paula Mumy

  9. You are really a brave person. You have faced your challenges and taken help of SLP and identified your strengths..
    Do well in your music and LIFE.

  10. Thank you for making this! It helped me see what it can feel like to have a stutter; I want to remind you that there is nothing broken or needing to be fixed, it is simply a different way of speaking. You reflecting on your strengths reminded me how how important it is for everyone to create spaces where kids feel safe to use their voices. The goal should be to change how people see stuttering and to help build confidence like yours!

    • Thanks so much! We agree that stuttering is simply a different way of speaking. And, like most things in life – they can be strengths and challenges. However, for Aryan, the strengths take center stage!
      Best,
      ~Jaime (and Aryan)

  11. Hi Aryan, it is so helpful to be able to identify what things are hard but also what is helpful! It is so great that you are feeling empowered and brave, keep up the great work!

  12. Aryan, my man, you are such a gem! I wish I had your wisdom when I was your age. I only saw the challenges, and it took me many years to find my strengths. I hope all the kids in the world, and all the speech therapists and parents, will see your poster. I also hope you will enlarge it, print it, and put it everywhere around the school. As there will be other kids who think they are alone, and only see their challenges, while instead we’re the superheroes, doing what’s hard, but doing it anyway. High five! Now go and celebrate the ISAD, our day, and let them spoil you. 😉

    Keep talking!

    • Thanks so much, Anita!
      After reading your comments, Aryan and his parents decided that they want to work with his SLP at school to find a way to get the poster printed out and hung around the school for other students to see. Aryan is also exploring ways to share the poster with his class. Last year, he gave a speech about stuttering on ISAD, so this year he’s thinking about something new!
      Best,
      ~Jaime (and Aryan)

  13. Aryan,
    I really like your poster display here! I think it’s important to talk about the challenges and the strengths of our experiences to help other people relate to us but to also help us explore our feelings. I am so proud of you for making this- Ms. Jaime sure is great! Thank you for sharing your creation and your thoughts with the world- keep doing that! Also, your choice of music that you like is really cool! I also used to play percussion a bit and playing the drums is so fun and takes a lot of skill!
    Sincerely,
    Steff

    • Hi Steff-
      Thanks so much for your awesome feedback! Aryan wants you to know that he is also beginning voice lessons and learning electric guitar too!
      ~Jaime (and Aryan)

  14. Aryan, I love your poster. You speak with so much heart. Your voice is unique and powerful just like you!
    You’re showing others that confidence isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being yourself. Shine on my darling!

  15. Aryan, this is a great informative poster, and I love your positivity. I appreciate how you highlighted both the challenges and strengths. It’s a compelling message, and you’ve created it in such a meaningful way for others to understand. It shows that challenges can be overcome, and individual strengths and talents make each person special. Keep rocking in music!

    • Sona-
      Thank you so much for your kind and supportive comments! Aryan and I have talked a lot about how being vulnerable with others can actually help us to find common ground and connect. At the end of the day – we’re all so much more alike than different!
      ~Jaime (and Aryan)

  16. Hi,

    Thank you so much for creating this poster! It really highlights a lot, again, of all the challenges you’ve faced and strengths that you have. I hope you can continue adding onto your strengths, and this really highlights a lot of information. It looks awesome!