Being ‘That Kid’ While a Nation Watches

Courtesy of CBS News.

I’ve been gathering ideas for this project for a while now, tracking them in a very utilitarian spreadsheet. During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, when Gov. Tim Walz’s son, Gus, was bursting with pride in his father, I weighed the idea of adding the story to my tracker. I thought about what a whirlwind it must have been to have gone from relative obscurity in the Midwest to a national stage. I thought about the challenges of having your neurodivergence suddenly become a casual topic of conversation among strangers.

At the time, anything I wrote would have been speculation. I have plenty of that, of course! But the point of “Hi, I’m New Here” is for you to hear from others, not from me.

Recently Gus Walz agreed to a profile by a news organization, and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to share his perspective in his own words.

As the mom of a couple of adolescents myself, I recognize how brave he is to open himself to scrutiny (again). I salute his parents for preparing him so well. Happy graduation, Gus!