My name is Freya and I’m nine years old. I was diagnosed with epilepsy last year, and it’s been a big change in my life. I decided to make a presentation about epilepsy for my class, in my own words, to help people understand what it’s like and how they can support me.
Feeling nervous but doing it anyway
When I first found out I was going to share my presentation with my class, I felt really nervous.
I didn’t know how people were going to react, and that was scary. But my class were actually really nice about it.
When I finished, I just felt really relieved. I was proud of myself for getting through it.
Why I made my presentation
The idea came from a class assembly. We were talking about different medical conditions, and epilepsy was one of them. Someone asked what epilepsy was, and my teacher asked if I wanted to do a presentation.
I decided to do it because I wanted to explain epilepsy from my point of view, not just what people think it is. It was the first presentation I’d ever done, so it felt like quite a big thing.
What I wanted people to understand
When I was making my presentation, I thought about what it’s like for me having epilepsy, and how that can be different from what other people expect.
I also wanted to explain that there are different types of epilepsy, because that can be confusing for people. That was probably the part I felt proudest of, because it’s not always easy to explain.
I learned a lot while I was putting it together too.
Answering questions and changing minds
After my presentation, some people asked questions. They wanted to understand what might happen if I had a seizure, and what kind of seizures I have.
I don’t have tonic-clonic seizures, and I explained that if I had an absence seizure while standing up, I would be okay.
I don’t think everyone understands everything about epilepsy now, but I think they understand more than they did before. That makes it feel worth it.
Feeling supported at school
When I was first diagnosed, my teachers gave me extra support and my friends were really kind.
Doing the presentation helped people understand me better, and it made me feel more confident about being open.
I also included ways my friends could help if I did have a seizure, because it can be hard to know what to do otherwise.
What I’d say to other children
If another child felt nervous about telling people they have epilepsy, I’d say: you’ll be okay, don’t worry.
If you feel comfortable, doing something like a presentation can really help. You don’t have to, but it helped me.
I actually really enjoyed doing my presentation, and I’m glad I did it. I’m thankful to everyone who supported me.
Looking ahead
I’m nine now, and I’ll be moving to secondary school in a few years. Knowing how to explain my epilepsy and what I need makes me feel more prepared.
Doing this turned something really hard into something positive. It helped me feel more in control, and less worried about being different.
By sharing my story, I hope other children with epilepsy feel braver speaking up in their own way, and that more people learn how to understand and support epilepsy at school.
