Oscar (16) Selected as February 2026 Friend Mail Recipient! 💝

jennifer2156
4 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Virginia teen "with biggest heart" is bullied for his autism, finds healing in books about kids like himself.

16-year-old Oscar is "kind, passionate and driven" and - his dad says - you "could not meet a kinder soul." If Oscar sees an ANT in harm's way, he will literally stop foot traffic to protect it - until he can carefully scoop it up and bring it to safety! 🐜

Oscar's "biggest heart" is well known at school, too. If a new student transfers in, administration brings them right to him for a warm greeting, a school tour and introductions to classmates and clubs. Oscar doesn't let his severe stutter stop him from greeting new students - or auditioning for school plays! Oscar loves being a theater kid! He doesn't care whether he gets 1 line or 50, he just loves to be on stage. Recently, Oscar got a standing ovation for performing a solo dance at a talent show! "He is not shy," his dad says proudly - and "he's not afraid of anything."

The straight "A" student - with high functioning autism - loves to read 24/7. He also loves Greek Mythology and is a truly "fantastic artist." His incredible paintings cover the walls of their home. Oscar's biggest passion - his longtime obsession - is anything and all things associated with JAPAN and its culture! Fun facts: he only eats with chopsticks ... he turns on Japanese subtitles when watching movies ... and he devours Japanese Anime graphic novels - called MANGA! In fact, he hopes to be a Manga illustrator as a career. And if that doesn't pan out, he intends to teach English in Japan after college. His parents have already planned his high school graduation gift... a trip to Japan, of course!

The 10th Grader plans to use his artistic talent as an illustrator of Japanese graphic novels! ❤️🇯🇵

In October 2025, Oscar's sister alerted the family to a Snapchat video spreading throughout the school district in their rural Virginia town. Oscar's dad told a reporter from WSLS NEW 10:

“My daughter showed me a video that had been posted online of him being bullied. He has autism and there was a young man following him around imitating his stimming, basically his hand movements and all his motions while others laughed."

Oscar - who typically doesn't tell his parents when he is bullied - told them the whole story... after the boy stopped recording the (now viral) video at the high school football game, other students joined in mocking and laughing at Oscar's stimming and stuttering. He tried to leave the area, but other students blocked him - and then they threw rocks at him.

In the following days and weeks, the bullying was escalated by friends of the students suspended for the video - causing Oscar to miss days of school for his physical and emotional safety. Still, he declined his parents offer to homeschool because he just loves school so much - when he's not being bullied.

Oscar says his love of reading has helped him to recover his mental health after the trauma. He found healing in books with characters he could relate to, kids like himself with autism. The books gave him the courage to become an anti-bullying and autism advocate. In January 2026, he spoke at a regional Ted Talk Jr. on "Overcoming Bullying Through Books." 🎉❤️