Karate Atlanta
8465 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Alpharetta
770-642-9222
karateatlanta.com
As soon as Óscar Gil arrives at Karate Atlanta he greets his taekwondo students and their parents with a smile that lights up the room. He shakes hands, addressing each individual by name.
This image of Gil is very different, however, from the way he was as a child. Diagnosed with autism at 18 months old, he was uncomfortable making eye contact and would only utter groaning noises and isolate himself from others and the world. It was not until he was eight years old that the Colombia native uttered his first words.
But now at 28 years old, his goal is to live a normal life and to do the same things everyone else can do, said his mother, Consuelo González, an Alpharetta resident.
“He helped himself a lot, he always said: ‘Mom, I want to be like everyone else.’ I saw how if other children could do something, he would want to do the same thing. I saw that desire in him,” González said.
When Gil was diagnosed, there was little information available about autism in Colombia. In search of help, the family moved to the United States 14 years ago.
Back in Colombia, a psychologist told González to “Bring him up like any other child, but give him 100 percent love, tell him that you love him and don’t criticize him.”
It is this same love that Gil gives to everyone he meets.
“The thing he says most is ‘I love you.’ Because that’s what we’ve always told him, since when he was 18 months old and we noticed the problem,” González said.
One of Gil’s biggest improvements came about thanks to taekwondo. His parents took him to a martial arts class seven years ago, thinking it might help him better manage his stress. Not only did it accomplish that goal, but the class helped improve his temperament and stimulate his language skills as well.
When Gil obtained his black belt, the highest level of achievement, teacher Miguel Román began preparing him to train young children.
“We say that Óscar is the heart of the school. He never has a bad day, and when he’s not here the school misses him,” Román said.
Like others his age, Gil has his sights set on getting a college degree. In 2005, he graduated from Centennial High School with a special education diploma.
For the last year Gil has been taking classes three days a week at Gwinnett Community College in order to pass the GED exam, a requirement for admission to a state college.
“His dedication is incredible. He gets up at 5:30 in the morning, gets his books together and he goes to study,” González said.
Despite the challenges her son faces, González has faith in his talent and determination.
“Óscar is very smart and dedicated and I know that my son will go to college,” she said. “It’s something he has gotten in his head and I’m sure he’s going to succeed.”
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