Patchogue Medford High School student and youth ambassador for the Tourette Association of America (TAA), Rebecca Caron has spent the last year courageously making a difference in her community by giving talks across Long Island about Tourette’s syndrome. She was recently featured on News 12 Long Island for Making a Difference.

Rebecca’s main objective in giving these awareness speeches across Long Island is to be able to stop bullying, to be able to educate people, and to spread awareness. Rebecca was able to express to us how she is able to live each day with Tourette’s disease, stating: “It’s hard… but it’s about learning to make the best out of it.”

It is because of her optimistic view that Rebecca is able to educate and help similar individuals who live with Tourette’s disease, stating: “Making a person know why they are a certain way.” No doubt many have benefited from these awareness speeches given. She continues to express that through these talks given to high school students, middle school, and occasionally college students. Many have become aware of Tourette’s disease and its effects, and have become less inclined to judge and bully people because they act in a certain way.

She concludes by saying: “Don’t limit people who are different from anyone else.” Truly then, Rebecca along with many other youth ambassadors to the TAA have and continue to make a greater impact on the communities around them, and helping many to become aware of Tourette’s disease.