Wonder

An Extraordinary Beginning

Dear Reader, allow me to introduce myself. I am August Pullman, though my friends call me Auggie.

I suspect you've never met anyone quite like me before, for my face is something of a map – a terrain of scars, surgeries, and the sort of uniqueness that makes people glance twice. I was born with a craniofacial condition that has, quite literally, shaped my life.

But this isn't a tale of woes or sorrow, rather it's a journey through the extraordinary facets of an ordinary life, much like the hidden treasures you might unearth in your own story. From the moment I drew breath, the world has been a puzzle I've had to piece together.

Each look of pity, every whispered word behind a hand, has been a lesson in human nature. I've come to understand that beneath the surface, we all crave the same thing: acceptance.

So, as you read this, think of the times you've felt different, outcast, or alone. Know that in those moments, our experiences align, our hearts beat to the same rhythm of longing.

As I share my tale, I invite you to see the world through my eyes – not just as a boy with a different face, but as a soul with a story. I promise, as we walk through the chapters of my life, you'll find echoes of your own.

For isn't that the beauty of stories? They weave us together in a tapestry of shared understanding and empathy. Let's embark on this journey, not as strangers, but as kindred spirits seeking the light in the midst of shadows.

The Gift of Friendship

The day I stepped into Beecher Prep was a day I'll never forget. It was the beginning of middle school, and for the first time, I was leaving the safety of my home and the gentle schooling of my mother for a world brimming with uncertainties.

The eyes that followed me down the hallways were curious, wary, and sometimes unkind. Yet, it was there, in the bustling corridors of possibility, that I found something unexpected – friendship.

Jack Will, Summer Dawson, and Charlotte Cody – they were my unexpected allies in a world that seemed poised for battle. Each of them, with their smiles and genuine hearts, taught me that true friendship doesn't see the face; it feels the soul.

Think now of your allies, the ones who've stood by you in the fiercest of storms. Aren't they the unsung heroes, the whispers of hope when the world seems too loud? Through their eyes, I began to glimpse the person I could be – not defined by my appearance, but by my actions, my humor, and my heart.

They showed me that courage isn't always a roar; sometimes, it's the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow.' I hope you, too, have known such friends, and if not, I hope you find them, for they are the stars that guide us through the darkest nights.

Lessons in Resilience

It would be a fairytale to say that my journey was smooth, that I wasn't tested or tempted to fold into the shadows. The truth is, there were days when the stares stung, when the words of bullies like Julian cut deeper than any surgeon's knife.

It was in those moments that I discovered resilience – that stubborn, relentless flame within that refuses to be extinguished. Resilience isn't born from comfort, it's forged in the fires of trials and tribulations.

It's the understanding that even when the world turns its back, you have the power to stare at your reflection and say, 'I am enough.' Have you felt this too, dear reader? Have you stood at the edge of giving up, only to find a strength you never knew you possessed? We are more alike than you realize – both warriors in our own right, battling unseen foes.

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, as Shakespeare once wrote, are not the heralds of our demise but the teachers of our strength. Each jibe, every fall, has been a stepping stone to a higher version of myself.

I invite you to view your own scars, not as marks of defeat, but as symbols of survival. After all, a diamond is just a piece of coal that did well under pressure.

The Portrait of Empathy

Amidst the tapestry of my school days, a portrait of empathy began to emerge. You see, empathy is not merely the ability to walk in someone else's shoes – it's the willingness to remove your own and stand barefoot, vulnerable, yet connected.

My sister, Via, was my unspoken champion, the one who felt my pain as if it were her own, who saw the world not in black and white but in shades of understanding. She taught me that to empathize is to listen with the heart, to see beyond the facade and recognize the silent battles each of us fights.

I wonder, have you felt the touch of empathy, given or received? It's a powerful force, a bridge between souls that can transform strangers into friends, and adversity into understanding. Empathy is the quiet nod of acknowledgment when words fail, the gentle squeeze of a hand that says, 'I'm here.

' It's the art of being human, the essence of compassion. As you navigate your own story, remember the power of empathy – it has the capacity to change lives, starting with your own.

The Power of Family

Family, I've come to realize, is the anchor in the tumultuous sea of life. They are the compass that guides, the haven when the world grows too loud.

My parents and Via were my lighthouse – their love, a beam of light cutting through the fog of uncertainty. In their eyes, I was never a project to be fixed but a person to be celebrated.

It's easy to forget, in the rush of life, the importance of family. They are the constants, the variables we often take for granted.

Yet, they are the framework upon which our lives are built. Reflect on your own family, whether by blood or by choice.

They are the narrative that runs parallel to your own, the roots that ground you when the winds of change blow strong. Through every surgery, each milestone and setback, my family was there – a testament to unconditional love.

I encourage you to hold your loved ones close, to cherish the moments and the memories. For in the end, it's not the years in our life that count, but the life in our years – and much of that life is given color and meaning by our families.

The Art of Kindness

Kindness, I've learned, is the simplest form of love. It's the unexpected note of encouragement, the random act that says, 'You matter.

' Mr. Browne, my English teacher, had a precept: 'When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.

' This wisdom has been a guiding star, a reminder that our actions ripple far beyond our immediate view. In a world quick to judge, quick to anger, it's kindness that can turn the tides.

It's the universal language that transcends barriers and binds us in ways that words often cannot. As you walk your path, look for opportunities to be kind – to yourself, to others, to the world.

It's a choice, a conscious decision that can alter the course of a day, a life. Kindness is the legacy we leave, the echo of our existence.

It's the footprint we leave on the sands of time, proof that we were here and that we cared. In your darkest moments, remember the kindness you've been shown and pay it forward.

It's a currency of the heart that is never devalued, a wealth that grows by giving.

A World of Wonders

As I look back on my journey thus far, I see a world of wonders. It's a mosaic of experiences, a symphony of souls each playing their unique part.

Every challenge, every triumph has been a note in the melody of my life, a life that I once thought defined by difference, but now know is defined by depth. We are all, in our own way, wonders.

We are the sum of our stories, the heroes of our own epics. I've shared with you a glimpse of my world, the peaks and valleys of my existence.

My hope is that in these words, you've found a mirror, a reflection of your own strength and beauty. As I step out of my role as August Pullman, I encourage you to seek out the original masterpiece, 'Wonder' by R.

J. Palacio.

It's a book that dives deeper into the lives that intersect with mine, into the hearts that beat alongside my own. In its pages, you'll find laughter, tears, and the undeniable truth that we're all a lot more alike than we are different.

It's a story that has the power to change the way we see ourselves and others – a story that champions the wonder in all of us.