Sophomore Brandon Sherman was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome as a child (Z. Detlaf)

He draws anything he thinks of. One of his drawings is hanging across from the Performing Arts Center.

His hands always have to be moving, doing something, like flipping his phone around.

He spends his mornings before class wandering the hallways.

Sophomore Brandon Sherman’s Tourette’s Syndrome has progressed to being nearly unnoticeable since third grade, when classmates would stare at the boy whose middle finger would fly up without permission. This also did not help his teachers’ thoughts of him.

Tourette Syndrome is, in short, a neurological disorder characterized by physical and vocal tics—uncontrollable movements or noises.

“It is not like South Park,” said Sherman.

When Sherman was in second grade, he started showing signs of Tourette’s, such as tapping on his desk uncontrollably. His mother recognized the signs of Tourette, having been diagnosed herself.

“When she is nervous, she has a facial tic,” said Sherman.

By third and fourth grade, Sherman’s tics progressed to vocal, mostly yelling nonsense. So people stared.

Sherman had been upset by this, but then again, people tend to notice something different that they do not understand.

“At first I was angry, but I grew up a little bit and decided not to take it out on everything else,” said Sherman.

Sherman does not blame people for staring because he understands why they would. He is just a bit different, but different enough for people to notice.

“I just go on and live my life,” said Sherman.

After fourth grade, his tics became less and less noticeable. Seeing him in the hallways, it is impossible to tell that he has any kind of tic. The only times they are apparent are when he is nervous or angry. Aside from those times, he is just a regular guy, roaming the halls of Huntley High School.