Articles
October 20, 2023

My Son Max the Valedictorian - Breaking Barriers with Asperger's

As a dad, I was so proud when my son Maxwell was named valedictorian of his graduating class at Norwayne High School in 2021. This achievement meant so much more to me because Maxwell has Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that can make social situations and public speaking incredibly challenging.

My Son Max the Valedictorian - Breaking Barriers with Asperger's

Establishing your brand as an illustrator

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit lobortis arcu enim urna adipiscing praesent velit viverra sit semper lorem eu cursus vel hendrerit elementum morbi curabitur etiam nibh justo, lorem aliquet donec sed sit mi dignissim at ante.

  1. Neque sodales ut etiam sit amet nisl purus non tellus orci ac auctor
  2. Adipiscing elit ut aliquam purus sit amet viverra suspendisse potent
  3. Mauris commodo quis imperdiet massa tincidunt nunc pulvinar
  4. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident sunt in culpa qui officia

Finding and landing your first illustration clients

Vitae congue eu consequat ac felis placerat vestibulum lectus mauris ultrices cursus sit amet dictum sit amet justo donec enim diam porttitor lacus luctus accumsan tortor posuere praesent tristique magna sit amet purus gravida quis blandit turpis.

Brand Illustration - Illustrator X Webflow Template
Odio facilisis mauris sit amet massa vitae tortor.

Managing your time and workflow as a freelance illustrator

At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat nisl pretium fusce id velit ut tortor sagittis orci a scelerisque purus semper eget at lectus urna duis convallis porta nibh venenatis cras sed felis eget neque laoreet suspendisse interdum consectetur libero id faucibus nisl donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam nunc lobortis .

  • Neque sodales ut etiam sit amet nil purus non tellus orci ac auctor
  • Adipiscing elit ut aliquam purus sit amet viverra suspendisse potenti
  • Mauris commodo quis imperdiet massa tincidunt nunc pulvinar
  • Adipiscing elit ut aliquam purus sit amet viverra suspendisse potenti
Building a network and promoting your work through social media

Nisi quis eleifend quam adipiscing vitae aliquet bibendum enim facilisis gravida neque euismod in pellentesque massa placerat volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida odio aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing tristique risus amet est placerat in.

“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua enim ad minim veniam.”
Diversifying your income streams as an illustrator

Eget lorem dolor sed viverra ipsum nunc aliquet bibendum felis done odio pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas aliquam sem fringilla ut morbi tincidunt augue interdum velit euismod eu tincidunt tortor aliquam nulla facilisi aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel pharetra nibh venenatis.

As a dad, I was so proud when my son Maxwell was named valedictorian of his graduating class at Norwayne High School in 2021. This achievement meant so much more to me because Maxwell has Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that can make social situations and public speaking incredibly challenging.

Maxwell was diagnosed with Asperger's at age 7. As a shy, introverted child, he faced struggles with social skills and communication throughout his school years. However, academically he thrived, excelling in classes and pursuing every educational opportunity. His hard work paid off when he finished high school with a perfect 4.0 GPA at the top of his class.

When Maxwell was selected to be valedictorian, we were thrilled but also concerned about how he would handle the pressures of giving a graduation speech. The school graciously allowed him to pre-record his speech to accommodate his needs. On graduation day, I cried happy tears as I listened to Maxwell's touching audio remarks, celebrating his fellow students and all they accomplished together. Heres that speech.

Now a junior at Kent State University, the same school his grandma Sandy Norman attended, Maxwell continues to impress me with his artistic talents and academic achievements. Though Asperger's presents challenges, he has never allowed it to stop him from pursuing excellence. 

I know my wife Dana and I are so proud of the young man he has become. His valedictorian honor, in particular, was a beautiful moment where Maxwell broke barriers and showed that anything is possible when you believe in yourself. He will always be my inspiring son and #1 student.

Subscribe to our

Newsletter