No matter their appearance or personality, any child can become a victim of bullying — even ones who go on to achieve great fame or prestige.

In the case of former Michigan State Spartans basketball star Anthony Ianni, it was because of his unusually tall height and the fact he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder that he was subjected to name-calling and harassment from a group of his peers during his early years in school.

While he eventually overcame the teasing on his way to collegiate success, the experiences always stuck with him.

Today, as a motivational speaker visiting classrooms across the U.S., it is this story that he shares with kids, many of whom are going through similar hardships as he once did.

“The message I give to kids is to be careful what they say and do to others, because you never who they’ll grow up to be one day,” Ianni said.

On Thursday, Ianni will be sharing his experiences with students at Dowagiac Middle School and Union High School, as he stops by the district as part of the The Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Autism Alliance of Michigan’s “Relentless Tour.” The motivational speaker will be dropping by the middle school at 8 a.m. and the high school at noon, where he will give a presentation and meet and greet with students.

Growing up in Ohio, Ianni was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was 4 years old. When told by doctors that their son would be likely struggle to complete high school, much less enjoy success ever playing collegiate sports, Ianni’s parents were defiant and encouraged him to pursue his dreams, no matter the obstacles that lie ahead.

“They always had high expectations for me,” Ianni said.

After graduating from Okemos High School, Ianni went on attend Michigan State University, where he joined the basketball team, led by Tom Izzo. The first known collegiate basketball player with autism, Ianni played with the 2010 and 2012 Big Ten Champion and Tournament Championship teams, and the 2010 Final Four team. He has won a number of awards including MSU’s Tim Bograkos Walk-On Award, the 2012 MSU Unsung Player Award, and was named a 2013 Detroit Pistons Community Game Changer Finalist.

In October of 2013, Ianni teamed up with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to launch the “Relentless Tour,” and has spent the last several years meeting with thousands of students around the country, talking to them about what it’s like to live with autism and the effects that bullying have on classmates.

“The best part of my job is when I meet with the kids one-on-one, and they share their own stories about dealing with bullying,” Ianni said. “It’s a very special feeling for me. It makes me realize I’m making an impact.”

One of the lessons Ianni plans on sharing with Dowagiac students Thursday is that, despite their many differences, they all share one big thing in common: the fact that they’re all classmates in Dowagiac. Despite some painful memories growing up, he said his pride in both his high school and college alma maters is as strong as ever.

“At most of the schools I go to, they feed off that message,” he said. “It’s the students’ duty to remember their school has a lot of pride, and that they’re all part of one great family.”