by Brandon Wilkinson (New Westminster)
For me, being happy and having a positive mindset comes with opportunities to be creative and confident and feel like you belong.
I’d say I had a rough childhood. I was bullied at school and didn’t have too many friends. Things got better in high school. I got to know more people and even a few friends. Having more people in my life started to broaden my horizons.
I moved out when I was 20. My mom and I were very used to living together. So, like any other kid moving out, it was hard. Today I live in a group home in New Westminster.
It was the recreational therapist of my group home that introduced me to the power of theatre and the opportunities for confidence and belonging that come with being on stage. My first performance was a comedy show with Realwheels Acting Academy. Each skit was based on the struggles of a person with disabilities, but it also showed community that even with barriers we can achieve what we put our minds to.
This had a hugely positive influence on my mental health. After performing for the first time, I felt like being on stage was my calling. Working together with other people with disabilities opened my eyes to things I didn’t know were possible for me. On stage we work as a team and all help each other. This was an important part of building my confidence and being comfortable with who I am as person.
It was through theatre that I met more people. I got introduced to someone involved in music and I started learning how to play bass guitar. It feels good to show that people with disabilities can do more than what many able-bodied people think we can do.
My mom visits me once a week and brings my dog and that’s something I look forward to. There have been some hard parts in my life so far. But if those things didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have become involved in theatre, or learned how to do things like build abstract art with Lego blocks.
I lost my sight and don’t see colours. I have discovered how to build with my other senses, letting my hands and mind guide me in my creations. This calms my mind and is another way I stay positive.
I look forward to being on stage again, to travelling with my family, meeting more people, and learning to do things I didn’t know were possible. These are the things that make me smile and give me hope for another day.