Diamond Garcia (10) is a sophomore who suffers from epilepsy. As if that weren’t enough, he also has preferable vision in his left eye and only a little in his right eye. What that means is he can only see a tiny slit of vision, so his assignments must be transcribed into braille or printed in a large font for him to be able to read. “It’s a very complicated diagnosis,” Garcia said. “Just because people don’t understand its variety and how it can affect people, but knowing that I can at least come out and interact with people.”  

Garcia’s seizures are usually triggered by lack of sleep, stress and missing a dose of medication, but doctors are still trying to figure out where “ends meet.” Garcia’s condition has affected his education. He has missed weeks at a time for having seizures continuously. Garcia’s mother wrote a letter to the board to ask about dismissing the hours because he  was so stressed about getting his work done that he kept having seizures. 

Garcia  has had seizures on numerous occasions at school. Garcia says the best way to help him when he is having a seizure is  “be mindful” and be aware of your surroundings. Garcia copes with his condition by telling people, “I am not my diagnosis. Once you get to know me, I’m an easy going person. I have a lot to offer, but people always tell me that and it’s been hard to embrace that.” 

Garcia still is a regular teenager. Garcia has social media, plays video games and interacts with people. Garcia enjoys reading as long as it’s on his own time and it isn’t forced. Garcia isn’t too sure on what he wants to do after highschool, but he knows he wants to at least  get an associates degree.