Shivam

My name is Shivam. I am 16 years old. I have Down’s syndrome but I don’t know what it means. I feel I am different from other children. I have 2 older sisters and 1 brother-in-law and lovely 1 year old niece. I love to go and stay overnight at my sister's house.

I live in Stanmore and go to Shaftsbury High School. I am in year 11. I enjoy going to school. I have lots of friends in school.

My Dislikes:

I hate shopping and going out.  I am scared of heights and all animals.

My favourite sports are football, cricket, tennis and swimming.  I really enjoy swimming and I have swimming lessons every Saturday morning - In December 2009 I was proud to receive a certificate for swimming 24 lengths in half an hour for the Channel Cross at Aspire. I support Arsenal.

At home I like playing with Wii, playstation, making cards, colouring, drawing, computers and doing workbooks and homework. My favourite subject is Maths. I enjoy after school clubs.

I also like to watch films - my favourite film is 'High School Musical' and I enjoy watching comedy channels as well.

My favourite pets are fish. I like to help in the house.

I like to go out to eat. I like all food, but favourite is chicken and rice.

Last year I went to Dubai and I loved it. The sea was very nice and the weather was hot. I also like to visit my grandparents in Phoenix Arizona but haven’t been there for a while.

My wishes:

I wish I could count the money which I find very difficult to understand. My parents teach me and I am trying to understand a little.

I also wish I could cross the road which I still don’t understand how to. I am trying to learn so I can go out by myself to the shops. I find that dangerous.

I wish I could be more independent so I could do a lot of things myself.

I also want to get over being scared of animals. I try not to but cannot help it. I just start shaking.

Most of the time I find it difficult to talk smoothly as I stammer a lot and I wish I could talk like everyone else.

My future:

I want to be clever like my sisters so I try to work hard and do lots of homework. Maybe one day I will be clever.  I would like to be a teacher when I get older.

I would like to travel to visit my grandparents in Phoenix on my own if I knew how to.

I would really like to be a hero of my school and make my school proud.