Imagine waking up in your comfortable, loving home only to leave and go into uncertainty. Imagine persevering through bullying on the bus and at school because you are pursuing an education. Imagine your own sister being embarrassed to sit with you on the bus. This was the daunting reality of 17-year-old Diane Wells.
Flash forward 41 years and Diane is living in her sister Marsha’s home. Diane is unable to live alone. Diane is my 58-year-old aunt and she is on the autism spectrum. Knowing Diane has shown me the importance of programs like IGNITE.
IGNITE is a program for people with autism where they can develop and grow life skills after high school. Out of every 3 people with autism, 1 is unable to support themselves financially. IGNITE is diving headfirst into these statistics to change lives. IGNITE was started by the Autism Society of North Carolina who last year worked with 22,000 individuals with autism.
Purpose, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “something set up as an object or end to be attained”. Ignite Raleigh helps many discover their purpose. Enloe student council is truly alive with purpose while working in the community, and I am excited about the impact that we can have for the years to come. A positive impact for the community, for Ignite, for Raleigh, and for Diane.
Roxie Dudley
Freshman Class Senator
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