I am so excited to be interviewing Charlie Michael Baker today. Charlie is a remarkable young man and I urge you to head to his social media and follow him. If you can, I’d recommend purchasing his book as it will give you a huge insight.
If you’ve been here before.. You know how much I really try to ensure our students have successful and positive times at school. I’ve worked with educators on this, but also families as well. And it’s something that’s very close to my heart.
Charlie’s story is one that will live with me for a long time. I know it will definitely form part of a future me as well. Charlie’s story gives an insight into someone’s personal experience. And this is really helpful for us to move forward with and make changes.
Please spend some time today reading the below interview. I have also attached links to Charlie’s social media (Instagram), his website. You can also purchase his book here.
Interviewing Charlie Michael Baker:
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself please?
My name is Charlie Michael Baker. I’m an average 16 year old with a best selling book… People say that makes me not ‘average’ but I’ll go with average haha. I’m also what they call an ‘influencer’ often been referred to as a celebrity too which is scary lol. I’m an entrepreneur/ business owner, and I’m a blog writer/ journalist.
2. When did you receive your autism diagnosis? Did this have any effect on your school experiences?
I was diagnosed with autism when I was 6 years old, after fighting for the diagnosis. The diagnosis really didn’t change much in terms of schooling experiences. It explained a few things though to people close to me.
3. You have had some very tough experiences for such a young age. Yet you are able to be so positive with change and your life moving forward. What do you credit this to?
It’s no word of a lie that I’ve been through a tough experience and I’d say that writing was my way out. I said earlier that if I didn’t write my book, I would be struggling mentally at this current time. My book helped me as much as it helped others and continues to help people on a global scale.
4. Let’s talk about your motivational post that you shared on Instagram. This post ended up with you going viral. What was with it and why do you think it brought so many people to you?
I reposted a motivational post that I had seen another do, usual in the industry post. And for some reason mine just went crazy viral. It’s got around 100,000 which is crazy to me. 100,000 likes ONE post!!! I attract so many people to my account because of the relatability that I bring with me. I’m a relatable ‘influencer’/ ‘celebrity’ and that’s what people like. They don’t want people flaunting their wealth. They don’t want range rovers. They don’t want Louis Vuitton. They want normal people and that’s why I’ve been so successful.
5. Do you think it was these experiences you have had throughout your life.. specifically within school as well.. that gave you the motivation to do your business solo?
Yes, I think so! I do everything solo, my socials, press, interviews, events, businesses etc. I’m not sure what it is I just can’t put someone else in control of that. Everything is so public. I have to be so careful with what’s said online so I’d rather just do it myself.
6. You were failed on so many occasions by the school system. What are 5 pieces of advice you would give to educators and/or schools?
I wouldn’t give the high up education systems my time of day, let alone 5 pieces of advice. They don’t listen to anyone and that’s why one in every four students report falling victim of bullying according to the National Centre For Education Statistics. According to their 2015 report so it will have increased, but I’ll give one, just in for the blog! My one piece of advice is… do something about it.
When a child comes up to you and says they’re being bullied, don’t then either ignore or discard that child. Chances are they’re probably feeling shit enough about themselves… Don’t then make them feel even worse by disrespecting the trust that they’ve just given you by telling you.
7. What advice would you give families visiting schoolings? Specifically to help choose the correct setting for them>
To be honest, you can’t really tell by the ‘tour around schools’ before joining. They will always fluff it up so you join. I’ve done the school tours as a student before. Before I even did it they told us the benefits that we’d get if we did well. Once, in year 7, I got a £10 Amazon gift card from doing it. They give you incentives for doing well. You can never really tell a school by the tour unfortunately.
8. It sounds like your tutor Tracey was a great experience for you. A lot of families with autistic children are now moving to home-schooling.. However it can be very difficult to get set up. Do you think this option would have been a more positive option for you?
I loved my tutor Tracey, I still speak to her today!! She’s just published her book too so we have similar interests. I think that being home schooled was definitely the better option for me. The only thing that I’d say wasn’t satisfactory with that was that she was the only person I’d see all day. I wasn’t at all sociable. I didn’t see or speak to many people until I started working a part time job at a furniture shop. I’d definitely recommend homeschooling and home tutoring.. You just have to remember to leave the house and socialise because if you don’t, it can really impact you mentally.
9. Regarding your toxic relationships chapter. This is something I personally know very well. I have been starting to work with some schools to work out ways that we can start to teach about healthy relationships. As teenagers it is really hard to recognise those unhealthy relationships. Do you think this would have helped you?
I think that being taught about healthy relationships would be beneficial. It’s just I was in a different position to most teens. I had hundreds of thousands of followers.. A best selling book and I was chief executive officer of my own company which may have swayed his intentions. It’s definitely made me more aware of people’s true intentions.
10. What advice would you give to someone who is considering sharing their life on social media?
Anyone that’s aspiring to be anything in life I’d say do it! Learn to say fuck it and just do it! I’ve always said I’ve wanted to be in the public eye… Now look at me! I have half a million followers and I’m one blue tick away from celeb status. So anyone that has aspirations… Just know that the worst you can get is a no. Live your life and do what you want. You only live once so fuck people and do what you want!!
11. You have achieved so much in such a short space of time. You should be so very proud of yourself and the difference that you are making. What advice would you give to someone who may find themselves having a similar experience?
The reaction from the public has been actually crazy to be honest. I’m shook! I have people fangirling over me when I follow them back or view their stories it’s absolutely crazy!
If someone is in a poor experience, firstly I’d like to say that I’m sorry that you’re going through that. But it doesn’t last forever and just try to find a way to vent. Don’t keep it enclosed as that’s the most harmful thing to do!
To find more information/ news/ press and updates you can follow my instagram (@charliemichaelbaker) or visit my website (charliembaker.com)
I hope you enjoyed this blog post about interviewing Charlie Michael Baker. Please consider sharing this post with others to help spread Charlie’s story. And remember to follow him on Instagram, his website.. And you can even order his book which we partially talked about in this interview today!
Nikki
