Brittany Mamula, 17, Greystanes, NSW
Holding Mum's hand on my first day of kindergarten, I was excited but also a tiny bit scared. Walking into the classroom, kids were playing everywhere.
How come I'm the littlest? I wondered, seeing how big they all were. But I didn't think much more of it and sat down beside a girl to play.
'How was your day?' my mum, Tracey, now 44, asked me when I got home.
'Fun,' I beamed.
'That's good,' she said, taking my hand. 'Now there's something I need to talk to you about.'
She sat me on her knee. 'You have something called achondroplasia,' she said. 'But most people call it dwarfism. It means that you'll always be shorter than other kids.'
Nodding, I remembered how tiny I'd felt that day.
'But Brittany, being small makes you special,' she added.
Hearing that, I beamed.
'It's cool being different, isn't it?' I smiled.
'It is,' she said. 'And you can still do anything you want.'
I had no reason not to believe her. I liked being me, even if I was a bit short.
As I grew up, primary school was a blast and my friends and teachers didn't treat me any differently.
My dwarfism became more pronounced as the other girls had growth spurts and I just reached their shoulders. But Mum's words rang in my ears.
I'm unique, I smiled.
The school even put in a special toilet, sink and bubbler for me as I was too small to reach the regular ones.
'You're lucky you don't have to share,' one of my friends said.
'I know,' I smiled.
At home, Dad, Alex, now 60, and Mum lowered the light switches and put in stools so I could reach things.
I was the only one in my family with dwarfism.
'Your type is a spontaneous genetic mutation,' Mum had explained. The gene must have been recessive - that's why Mum, Dad and my brother David, 18, didn't have it.
That year, I joined the Short Statured People of Australia Association, and began attending their gatherings in NSW.
Meeting other short-statured people was cool. Finally I was able to talk with people on my eye level. But there were also some sad aspects of meeting people like me.
'I hate being short,' one girl complained. 'I don't know why this had to happen to me.'
Shocked, I couldn't believe she felt that way.
'But you're unique,' I told her encouragingly. 'I love being short statured. It makes me original.' Laughing at me, the girl stalked off. Poor girl, I thought. She can't see how special she is.
By the age of nine I'd discovered sport. I played tee-ball for the Wentworthville Waratahs, and apart from having the stand lowered, I could do everything like my team-mates. I even won the Best and Fairest award at the end-of-year ceremony.
Starting high school in 2005 was a huge change. The school grounds were much bigger than at primary school and there were so many students.
At 130cm, everything felt a bit overwhelming. But with Mum's encouragement, I took it in my stride.
Some of my friends from primary school were there and I made lots of new ones too.
At first I felt a few people staring at me, but after a couple of weeks they'd lost interest.
They're just curious, I thought. I'd probably stare at me if I was them.
Like any teenager, I loved going shopping with the girls.
Sportsgirl was my favourite store and despite my condition, I often bought clothes there.
'I just get them altered at the tailors,' I'd explain to friends.
In 2007, when I was 15, Mum finally allowed me to attend my first short-statured convention.
'I can't wait!' I squealed.
The convention was held over six days in Port Macquarie and in the car on the way, I couldn't stop yakking.
'Calm down Brit,' Mum laughed, sensing my nerves.
Neither of us said it, but we both knew that I was hoping to meet a boy.
It wasn't that I had anything against dating taller people, but I knew a short-statured boyfriend would probably understand me better.
As fate would have it, I met a special someone on my first day.
'I'm Sam from Victoria,' a short-statured hottie said to me at the meet and greet.
After a quick conversation I walked back to Mum.
'He likes you,' Mum winked. Blushing, I hoped she was right.
Over the week we went to the beach, had discos and played games in the park. By the last day, it was time to swap numbers with everyone.
'I'll talk to you soon,' Sam promised. And he wasn't lying - we were texting each other within minutes of leaving the convention!
Over the next year, Sam and I talked practically every day. It was great to be able to chat with someone who knew exactly where I was coming from.
Then, one night, after having been friends for months, Sam popped the big question.
'Do you want to try the long-distance thing?' he asked.
'Sure,' I stuttered, overwhelmed with happiness.
Hanging up, I screamed into my pillow. I was stoked to have my first boyfriend.
Sam arrived in NSW a month later for the short-statured trivia night. I was so excited about being in the same room as him I could barely answer any questions all night!
When the event was over, Sam and I walked into the foyer together.
There's no way we can share time alone here, I thought, scanning the crowded room.
But Sam wasn't about to be put off. Picking up a balloon, he held it in front of our faces as we shared our first kiss. It was magical.
Now I had a boyfriend and a great school life, but I wanted more. Many of my friends competed for our school in sporting competitions and even got to state level. I wanted that too. I can do anything, I remembered.
It was then Sam told me about the World Dwarf Games, which are like the Olympics for short-statured people.
'I'm going to try out for the basketball team,' he said, encouraging me to do the same.
Mum and Dad agreed and a few months later, I flew to Victoria for the trials.
As well as basketball, I wanted to get into the athletics and swim team too.
On the court, Sam and I helped each other. Catching my eye, Sam threw me the ball and set me up for an easy shot.
What a great boyfriend, I thought, high-fiving him after the game was finished.
Once the tryouts were over, Sam and I knew we'd done our best. 'I hope we get in,' he said.
'Me too,' I nodded. 'We'd get to go overseas together.'
A month later, I received the call I'd been waiting for.
'I made it!' I screamed to Mum. I'd been chosen to compete in the 60m sprint, the freestyle relay, and as a reserve on the basketball team.
Sam rang minutes later. He'd made the basketball team too.
Now, three months before we leave for the games in Northern Ireland, Sam and I meet up every month for team training.
I know when we put on our Australian uniforms and take to the court for our country, it will be one of the proudest moments of our lives.
Mum was right when she said there was nothing I couldn't do, and I hope everyone else who is a bit different knows that applies to them too.
Achondroplasia dwarfism
Achondroplasia dwarfism is a genetic disorder. People with achondroplasia reach an average adult height of 131cm for males and 123cm for females. Over 80 per cent of people with the condition – which occurs once in every 25,000 births – have parents of normal stature.
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