My name is Steven Kaufman and I am the Long Island chapter leader (along with teammate and chapter leader Lori Melnitsky) for the National Stuttering Association. I can say emphatically that the NSA is my rock, my strength, and my courage to do what's right in this world. Ever since age three, I have been a person who stutters. I really didn't think much of it until I got to high school and saw how much of an impact could have. I suffered through everything-the teasing, the Porky Pig jokes, the humiliations of not being picked to volunteer in class because the teacher just "did not have time" to listen to me. It got so bad that I would eat in the nurse's offide during lunchtime just to have a place of solitude. I felt so ashamed that I dared not tell my parents what was going on. When I entered junior college, I heard all the cliches: "This will be a new beginning," and others. It wasn't. It was just more of the same. I felt myself undergoing a bitter metamorphisis into someone I could not recognize, feeling like my body and soul were fighting each other for control. A few years later, I found work at a law firm, but not in the position I ideally had hoped to get. The firm decided to place me in the billing department, because my speech apparently was too big of a concern for them. Feeling absolutely low, it was at this point that I heard about the National Stuttering Association's annual conference, held in Long Beach, Calif. I believe that in every life, we have defining moments that show our character. On a spur of the moment, I booked my plane ticket and hotel. When I told my parents I was going, they said "Why?" and used a sarcastic tone. I knew right then there, it was now or never. The plane touched down a few hours later, and I wondered what I got myself into. Well, what I did get myself into was an amazing family who I love more than life itself. I found seminars that not only challenged me emotionally, but mentally too, forcing me to look at stuttering in ways I never knew existed. I finally saw how to tap into my potential and deal with negative feelings in a constructive manner. I began to fully understand why the NSA believe that if you stutter, you're not alone. I am a firm believer that at these conferences, I have no friends, but teammates: over 600, and growing. You should not be afraid of your stuttering. But your stuttering should be very afraid of you. It is because of the National Stuttering Association that I have helped transform my life in many ways. I am now very outspoken about stuttering. I have a blog that reaches teammates who stutter from here and abroad. I've lectured at Seton Hall University, Columbia University, Mercy College, to name a few. I am a chapter leader and absolutely love it, and I do a great deal of work with them in various capacities. I stand by my teammates and whenever we struggle with challenges, we'll always be there. When all else fails, the NSA doesn't. The NSA's impact on children and teens is amazing. Every year at our conferences, we take pride in welcoming "first-timers," who are given special recognition. This past year, we had 160 teammates who were "first-timers," many were young children who came with their mothers, and families. The children were very shy and apprehensive, but within one hour, they are laughing and talking nonstop. At the closing banquet, it is very emotional for all, but it's really like watching a butterfly emerge from the cocoon. You will never ever see the person the way they were again. The National Stuttering Association is the biggest advocacy organization in the world. I have no doubt saying emphatically, it is the number one fan club for teammates who stutter. For anyone who stutters, I can't stress to them how important it is to get involved. It truly is magical in every way.