Jordan's Journey
New Zealand
Cairns
Townsville
Yeppoon
Sydney
New Zealand

Australian Sites That We Will Visit
I love people, especially my family and friends. I enjoy helping people. There are many people, here and around the world, who could do great things if they just get a little help and support, like I get. There is a girl at my school named Jasmine who’s very tiny, with almost no hair. (I’m not sure why). I like to help her. Sometimes, I write her cards, too, to remind her how important and wonderful she is. I think it helps build her confidence.
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I’m not always sure how to help people, but I believe that if I learn more about other children in my school, my community, the United States, and internationally, then I will have a better understanding of people and how to help them. I think I will understand myself better, too. I’ll be working with adults and students from different backgrounds and experiences who will build my social skills and interaction way before we go to Australia. Honestly, something tells me that we’re more alike than different.
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I feel like this trip can help me understand more about the nations of the world, so I can learn how to help. But, I also think that I will give others an opportunity to understand Autism. I want to be the first student with Autism to be an ambassador of peace with People to People, to show the world that Autism is not scary or weird or less, just different. My mom always tells me that I am lovable and capable. And, I know this trip will empower me to make a difference.
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ABOUT JORDAN
I am Jordan Morrisey. I am autistic. I just learned that this is the reason that it is often difficult for me to understand people and have them understand me. I was told that it’s called mind blindness. I don’t feel like I have mind blindness. I think I understand people pretty well when they explain themselves very clearly. Some people like to use facial expressions, or cues, to communicate, which is not always clear. I tend to be very literal. So, sarcasm and some figurative language are not always clear to me. I spend a lot of my time learning how to meet peoples’ expectations and fit in. I do a pretty good job.
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I enjoy music very much. I play guitar, violin, and percussion. Math is my favorite subject, and I’m very good at it. I hope this journey will show me how to use math in a bigger way. I’m a great dancer. I like to dance like Michael Jackson. I’ve even won contests imitating him. I like writing comic books and illustrating them myself. When I draw, I feel free to be me. I create movies with the stories I write. Super heroes are my favorite! I like to play with the action figures and pretend that I am saving the world! The heroes conquer their fears, so they help me conquer mine.
