Someone once said, “An obstacle is occasionally a stepping stone.” This young man didn’t always know or believe it, but he has certainly proved it to be true. Please meet Colton Turner.
Colton is the 19 year-old son of Mike and Michelle Turner. He has two brothers and a sister, and, like most kids, he grew up loving video games, music and computers. But Colton was a little different than some of his peers. At an early age, he was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism.
Colton’s family moved to Lavaca from Arkoma, Oklahoma in 2011. He didn’t have many friends in his new school and is problems often made it hard to make new friends. It was an emotional and troublesome time for Colton. “There were many of times I just wanted to say screw it and be done. But I never did. Back then, the only thing I knew to do when I was angry was just get mad and scream and holler. It got so bad at point, that I threw these meltdowns almost everywhere and every day.” But Colton found comfort in the library computers. He calls it, “The best two hours of my day.” He didn’t have access to a phone or computer at home so he looked forward to that time he had at school. To escape the bad things going on at that time, he turned to YouTube where he could meet new people, comment on the posts and videos. Online, Colton had friends and could talk to people.
He began his own YouTube channel. Online was where Colton found an audience that would hear his thoughts and ideas, how he was feeling at the moment, both good and bad. Today, over two thousand people subscribe to Colton’s YouTube site, Wildboy5699, many who share in his battle with Autism.
Colton began working with the drama club in high school and performed in several plays. The greatest day of his life, he says, was when he graduated high school and getting accepted into college. He proved to himself and others that he could do anything he set his mind to do. He is now at UAFS and majoring in theater. He plans on becoming an actor. Colton has now been in eight plays and is working on a short film this summer. He has connected to a couple of Hollywood actors who have seen his story online and offered to help his dream be reality.
“My goal is to share my story with millions around the world and inspire them to tell their stories. I believe that, no matter what, whether you have a disability or not, if you believe in yourself enough, you will accomplish anything you want to do.” Remember this young man’s name. You will most likely be seeing him very soon.
