Cody Matthews bio

Cody Matthews was born to Charles and Nadine Matthews in Philadelphia, Mississippi, on August 12, 2003. He was the oldest of three children. Charles worked for a large feed and grain company for many years. Nadine was a homemaker who concentrated on her children to ensure they did well in school, so they could go to college and have a better life.

When Cody was learning to speak, he stuttered. His father would tell him to slow down and think about what he wanted to say, but his advice just seemed to make the stuttering worse. The harder Cody tried not to stutter, the worse it got. His parents were concerned but didn't know what to do to help. When they didn't talk about Cody's stutter, he relaxed, and it was better.

When Cody entered preschool, the other children mimicked him and made fun of him, so he just didn't talk at school unless he had no other choice. It was a difficult time for Cody, and he became more withdrawn, both at school and at home.

Fortunately, when Cody entered first grade, he had a teacher who had some speech pathology experience and began working with him. She also helped his parents understand what worked to help him improve and what was detrimental to his improvement. Cody's parents did everything they could to bolster his self-confidence. He became an excellent student, and Nadine always made sure the teachers understood Cody's reluctance to speak in school.

Cody did well in his studies and on tests. Despite his reserved nature, he was an amiable child. His schoolmates and teachers liked him, and he came to trust them, but he remained painfully shy, especially in groups of people he didn't know.

Cody's shyness didn't prevent him from participating in school activities, sports, and community affairs. By the time he entered high school, he knew practically everyone in his small town and was well-liked. His grades and college entrance exams got him into the University of Mississippi — his mother's dream — but he found adjusting to the large university almost overwhelming at first. He was lonely and lost. He missed his family and his hometown.

After his first year at Ole Miss, he was about ready to quit. But his confidence returned at home during the summer, and he decided he could do it after all. Besides, he reasoned, he had an obligation to help his mother reach her dream of a college education for her children. He knew he was a role model for his younger brother and sister, and if he couldn't make it at Ole Miss, it might discourage them from even trying.

Now in his sophomore year, Cody still spends a lot of time by himself and is often seen wandering around, looking for ways to ease his loneliness.