September 18, 2008 was the day that I entered this world. My mother was only 20 years old and unaware of how she was going to raise a child. My father had left her at 6 months pregnant and told her he wasn’t ready to be a father. My mother never made me feel different from other kids because I didn’t have a father in my life. At the age of seven I was diagnosed with Autism, anxiety and Tourette’s. My mother was uneducated about my diagnosis but she knew she had to advocate for me. My mom would come to school and sit with me some days to help with my behaviors. The staff and my mom found different coping strategies to help me have a successful day. They taped Velcro and sand paper to the bottom of my desk. This would allow me to deal with my sensory issues so that I can concentrate in class. I also had a half of a Pilates ball on my chair so I can have some type of movement while sitting down. After trying these techniques my grades increased tremendously. I actually began to enjoy school. Although I didn’t have great social skills my mother wanted me to do everything other kids did! I loved basketball! My mother assistant coached my first basketball team. She had no basketball experience but she wanted to make sure I enjoyed every moment on the court. My peers accepted me although I had vocal and physical ticks. They always encouraged me and reassured me everything was ok when I had my tick episodes. With my love for basketball I joined an AAU travel team. For 5 years straight my mother has driven me up and down the highway. We have traveled to Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and New York; just to name a few. I have grown athletically with the help of my coaches. Although so many obstacles have been put in front of me, I have over come them all. With my hard work and dedication I have received many offers to play basketball. One school in particular stuck out to me. Curry College. That college has so may accommodations for individuals with Autism. I can actually feel comfortable and not different. After speaking with the coaches; they offered me a spot on their basketball team!!! I’m so honored to be able to play for a team that accepts me for me. It a dream come true. I can get the academic support that I need while being a party of a team that will support, encourage and accept me. I have overcome my fear of being different and accepted that I’m not different. I’m me!!! Makell Hailey

My name is Makell Hailey. I’m currently a senior in high school. At age 19 my mom discovered she was pregnant with me. My dad decided that being a parent to me wasn’t something that he wanted. He left when my mother was 6 months pregnant. Luckily I had a mother who was determined to give me the best life that she could despite having to do it alone. She began PCA school when I was only one week old. She knew she had to get a job that would be able to support the both of us. At age 7 I was diagnosed with Autism. My mother didn’t know anything about Autism spectrum disorder but knew she had to advocate for me so that I could get the proper support I deserved to successfully finish school. At age 10 My mother dedicated all of her time and money to help me chase my dreams. I loved basketball and dispute my diagnosis, my mom made sure that I was able to play with my peers. With the help of the coaches and my mom all of my peers accepted me. I had physical ticks that were noticeable but my peers never laughed or looked at me differently. My mom made sure they always made me feel like part of the team. She would drive me all over for AAU. We traveled to Virginia, Atlantic City, Maryland and Philadelphia, just to name a few. Because of all of the years of support and dedication I was able to help my high school basketball team to accomplish something that they haven’t been able to do since 1987. This year my high school team won the State championship. Watching my mom selflessly provide for me even while sick with Lupus and being the caregiver to my grandma with dementia for 6 years before her passing on December 23, 2025, has given me the determination to attend college and be able to help her once I graduate. She is my backbone and my biggest fan on and off the court. She has instilled confidence in me that I will be able to do anything I put my mind to. Without mother I don’t know where I would be. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She is the reason I can confidently say that have overcome all the obstacles that have been thrown at me to stare me away from my goal.