Born this way
By: Janinne Veloso
Tags: Lady Gaga, Unicorns, Born This Way, Autism

Jasmina is back and this time she will join her sisters and friends for a unique performance on a stage!

According to my dad my mother is a creative person. She is always creating things like customs for us to go to dressing up days at school, all sort of prompts and crafts and she also designs our parties with beautiful decorations, I can see she is proud of herself when the table is settled and all the balloons are on the right place and everything just looks beautiful.

-Clotilde, you could be a party maker This is so beautiful! That is what everyone says.

However, it is not only party’s decoration that my mum exercises her creativity, she also enjoys music and recently she started this new project of a choreography for the end of the year presentation at my sister’s school . Firstly started with Lara, Naila, Soraia, Amapola and then later other 2 girls joined. They started coming to our house every Mondays and Saturdays to rehearsal. My mother says the dance is to promote awareness abou kids that are or feels different than what society calls “normal” or “neurotypical”, is the term I prefer to use. So, yes, I guess the dance was inspired on me and my sister Aline.

The song they chose is ‘Born this way’ by Lady Gaga and it has a nice rhythm to dance. Lyrics are catchy too, sometimes I get myself singing it in my head, Aline is also always singing during the day “baby I was born this way”. The girls that are doing the dance get so excited about it, during the rehearsals, they laugh and jump and dance. There are different moves and they are getting better by every week and the whole thing is getting very harmonious and beautiful to look… or feel.

My mother is trying to fit me and Aline in the dance but we kind of don’t know how to follow and do the moves at the same time as the other girls, but my mum said that we can just walk to the front and twirl or jump or do whatever we feel like it. She also said that on the day of the presentation there will be a room full of people so it’s ok if we get a bit nervous and decide not to dance.

So, we keep doing the rehearsals and now that Aline and I have joined the crew for some weeks I feel more confident with my role. Aline and I will walk into the very center of the stage and we have to raise our arms and twirl or jump or do whatever we like. I wish my mother could be more specific with these instructions actually. I don’t know what to do. But I feel I should follow my heart as she says, whatever that means. I guess it means to just let it flow and do whatever I feel like even if it it will be seeing as stimming and inappropriate for neurotypicals. I will try to just be myself no matter what. Fearless.

be a unicorn

Anyway, this dance thing is awesome! It feels amazing to be part of it. The lyrics are so nice and encouraging. I can see that the girls are getting really excited with the day for the presentation approaching. They are also so excited about the costumes they are going to wear. These clothes were handmade by Soraia’s grandmother and they are pink and yellow with some pearls and stones embroiled on the skirt and they are sparkling and stylish and so very pretty!

Yesterday we had our last rehearsal and everyone was wearing those clothes. Aline didn’t like her dress, I think the material bothers her, it bothers me too but I am going to wear it anyway. I mean, I am going to try it at least, This dress is too pretty to stay in the wardrobe. I look like a real princess with that: Lady Jasmina, the princesa arabe.

Good morning Jasmina. Wake wake! time to go school!

What? I have school today, but today is..

You have school in the morning and in the evening we will go to the theatre for the presentation. It’s gonna be great! I’m so excited for you guys!

Yes, I’m excited too… but I wish I could just stay at home today and chill out until the time for the presentation… anyways, its probably good that we all have school so we can focus on something else and don’t get too anxious about it.

The day just flew smoothly. After school we just chilled at home until around 4 pm when my mum started with the all the fuss and rush.

C’amon guys, let’s get ready. Toledo! Help me to dress them.

So dad and mum dressed us and made our hairs. I couldn’t help it but cry a little while mum was braiding my hair. But it was ok.

We all got to the theatre and went to the dressing rooms behind the curtains and I didn’t understand while we were there if we were already dressed and ready to present. So we were all waiting and I could hear people getting to the chairs and talking and the sounds became louder and noisier. At some point I had to cover my ears. Dad took me to see the audience from behind the curtains and I was amazed by all those people waiting to see us.

Ladies and gentleman, I’m Mr. Gibson and we are all here today to celebrate the students achievements during the year and also to celebrate the uniqueness of every human being. Our differences makes us unique and we should be proud of being different. I am not gonna talk much… the dance will speak for itself but I just want to thank all the parents for the continuous support and to these mothers here for this initiative, for all the effort to make this performance to happen. Thank you!

My mother, Soraia and Amapola’s mothers nodded their heads and mouthed thank you to the principal and to the audience and they all move to behind the curtains.

Ok girls! It’s time! You got this! Have fun!

So my mum high fived all of us and they yelled : GIRL POWER! As the music started.

Curtains opened. The energy is so strong. I can feel each single person emotion in my body. It gives me a permanent chill. Lara is so focused on her moves she forgets to smile. Naila is definitely having the time of her life, dancing and singing, she is enjoying it and is everything so natural for her, the other girls are also having fun.

Aline is a bit distract, my mum is holding her hand and telling her that our part is coming. I am just practicing the morning breathing we usually do at meditation time at school, it amazes me that it actually works for moments like this.

It’s almost time. One more guitar note and:

Go Jasmina! It’s now! Mum says with a big smile in her face. I look at my dad who is also smiling and he holds my hands towards the stage.

Time stops. My stomach flips with all the energy. Girls are in the right position, making the star shape and I see my x in the middle of it. I put my chin up, look at the juice box with a white star someone left on top of a box in the stage and that is it. I am doing it. I walk to my x, put my arms up and I feel the need to jump, so I do it. And then I twirl, and I jump again and again. This is everything! I feel so free! I almost forget I am on stage! That I am a star!

I do my own dance for a little bit and look to the side where I see my mother crying and waving. She also smiles. I get it. She is overwhelmed too, but good overwhelmed, she starts to clap and says : Well done Jasmina!

I just want to hug her so I run and she catches me and give me a big kiss and hug. My dad joins us and says:

-Well done Jamina We are so proud of you.

Dance finishes, we all go back together to the stage and everyone is clapping and after a lot of clapping everyone stands up and I can see some people crying and smiling at the same time, just like my mum was.

My mum gets the microfone and quotes lady Gaga: — Just be yourself and your are set, You are on the right path baby, you were born this way. Thank you so much everybody.