You deserve good things
Special ed teacher Jessica Margulies credited boxing with turning her life around in her darkest moments, and she believed the misunderstood sport could transform the lives of her students with autism too!
Jessica Margulies sighed as she watched her class file out at the end of the school day. Working with children who have autism was rewarding, but also frustrating for the Queens, New York, special ed teacher. Jessica’s heart ached seeing the kids struggle to express themselves… others seemingly locked inside their own world.
If only there was some way that I could help them channel their feelings, a way to help them break out of their shell. Like boxing did for me, she thought.
Growing up, Jessica had battled weight issues and low self-esteem. She eventually developed an eating disorder and body-image issues. But soon after graduating college, a friend suggested Jessica join a boxing class to alleviate stress… and it changed her life. She quickly fell in love with the sport and even took coaching lessons. A few months later, she flourished with a newfound strength and positive self-image.
If this sport did all this for me, maybe boxing could also help my students to find their inner fighter and self-love too? she suddenly thought.
Jessica got permission from Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and started The Spectrum Bout (Boutfitness.org), offering young people on the autism spectrum, ages 8 through 21, boxing classes as a way to build confidence, socialization skills, communication and focus.
While many parents were skeptical about teaching their kids to fight, they too longed for an outlet for their children and agreed to give it a try.
Leading a young boy into the ring, Jessica smiled as she helped him put on a pair of boxing gloves. But he just stood there. He wouldn’t even look at her. Until, she started throwing punches into the air to the count of one, two, three… one, two, three…
Like most kids on the autism spectrum, he liked repetition. He began intently watching her hands and soon began following her cues.
Watching from outside the ring, his mother’s eyes glistened. “He’s never done that before,” she told Jessica.
Girls too took to the sport. As their faces lit up with smiles, Jessica could see their confidence growing.
It’s working, she rejoiced. Another young man had always responded with aggression when frustrated, but boxing gave him a structured way to release his feelings. His mom marvels at how calm he’s become. He even helps teach boxing classes now.
“The most inspiring thing is seeing how proud my students are of themselves,” Jessica says. “They come in smiling. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.” — Diane Nichols