Wednesday's high school assembly was deeply personal and informative. Olivia Matlin '14 presented on her experience with Tourette Syndrome and how it has changed her life.
Olivia was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome while in middle school. As a way to spread awareness about the syndrome, Olivia decided to do a documentary film. The film focuses on the struggles that young people with this genetic disorder go through on a daily basis. Olivia has presented this film and spoken at many schools and has even had a chance to go to Washington DC to speak with government officials about her experience with Tourette's Syndrome.
Olivia showed the documentary she made to the high school and then described the physical, mental and emotional experience of having Tourette's Syndrome. The presentation was followed by a question and answer session where Olivia took questions from high school students as well as teachers about her experience as a young woman with Tourette's Syndrome. She received a well-deserved rousing ovation at the conclusion of the assembly.