ART ON A MISSION


My name is Achilleas Souras. I’m 16 years old and I


live in Barcelona. Growing


up, talking wasn’t always easy for me. Speaking on the phone was hard. There were times when I was mocked and other kids finished my sentences for me. Sometimes I changed my words because I stuttered more on certain sounds. I believe that my stuttering gave me a special affinity towards those that are misunderstood or labeled.


I turned my energies into basketball, a game that allowed me to be myself, without feeling the pressure of verbal communication. It was through Bob Love, my basketball mentor, that I met Susan, a Seattle-based Speech Therapist. We formed an instant connection. I committed to 5-8 hours of daily speech therapy to face my biggest challenge ever. It was uncomfortable at times as we recorded my voice, discussed my feelings, role-played speaking situations and practiced in public. It was also the most rewarding thing I have done. I discovered words were within my verbal reach. I learned to


“own” stuttering. my


10


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