Understanding autism: Speak up w88 mobile the things that make your life unique

Try to remember elementary school. Did you get good grades? Did you have friends come to w88 mobile house after school to play? Did you love w88 mobile teacher? For me, school meant long hours away from home, desperately trying to fit in, and anxiety so bad that I called my mom, crying, at least once a week. This may sound unusual for a third grader until you learn something it would take me another nine years to discover: I'm autistic. Autism presents differently in everyone, and for a high-achieving student like me, it was easy to write off my problems as a smart child who disliked school.

For many years, w88 mobile parents assumed that as time went on, the gap between w88 mobile academics and w88 mobile emotions would shrink, until I was at the same level as w88 mobile peers. As junior high gave way to high school though, it became clear that that was not the case. I got high grades in difficult classes, but how to have friends, a lesson most learn by middle school, remained a mystery. I rarely brought home homework, but I had panic attacks that caused me to need to retake tests. I succeeded where others struggled, and struggled where others easily found success. I was different, but I didn't know why.

Finally getting my diagnosis a few weeks before my senior year came as a blessing. No one wants to be diagnosed with something as impactful as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, but for me it marked a turning point in my life. Finally, I understood why I had such a strange disconnect between my strengths and my weaknesses, why things that were supposed to be easy could be so difficult, why I failed to live w88 mobile to the expectations set forth by my parents, my teachers, myself. I finally understood why I was the way I was.

College, some might say, is a time for coming into your own, a time to find out what you love and what you're good at and where you're going. For some, that's art, or engineering, or history, but for me in many ways college has served as a time to grow into my own skin and become passionate w88 mobile myself.

I recently was on a panel, entitled "What is Neurodiversity?" where I got a chance to talk to the community w88 mobile my experiences alongside professors and grad students. It was terrifying to talk in front of everyone, but it made me realize how important it is to speak up w88 mobile the things that make your life unique because sometimes you are the only person who can.

I hope that by continuing to share my voice, others can be inspired to speak w88 mobile and share their truths as well, because for a campus as big as UNR, a lot of students feel like they are dealing with something that no one else understands. We need to share our stories so we can lift each other w88 mobile, let each other know that we are a community of shared experiences and kind understanding.

So, how do w88 mobile do that? How do w88 mobile make a difference? I suggest the following steps from silence to advocacy.

1. Be honest with yourself: Be proud of who you are and be unashamedly yourself. Don't try and deny w88 mobile experiences. Accept and embrace w88 mobile identity.
2. Find someone to build you w88 mobile: Whether a mentor, a counselor, a family member, or a friend, find a person who can support w88 mobile and understand w88 mobile, and can advocate for w88 mobile: The Disability Resource Center (DRC) and counseling center to find advocates
3. Find others like w88 mobile: There are people who share w88 mobile experiences and struggles on campus, and they can make an excellent community. Wired Like This or the DRC Peer Mentor program are good places for this.
4. Advocate for yourself: This can be scary, but stand up to others w88 mobile who you are and what that means for your interactions. Whether getting an accommodation for a test or asking someone to stop making certain assumptions, speak up.
5. Take w88 mobile an active role: Get involved! Invite someone to the club, learn w88 mobile others, start being a active member of your community. Suggest an outreach project or participate in an event.
6. Advocate for others: Use w88 mobile knowledge and abilities to make a big impact. Start a needed club, lead an event, or make a presentation.

(Editor's note: World Autism Day is April 2. Kate Kerr was a freshman at the University at the time of writing this. She notes, "I love the outdoors, and I am always eager to try new things! In my free time, I like to read, hike, work on art projects, and find new things to learn w88 mobile. I grew up in Illinois, and I love to visit the home farm over break. Find me on Facebook as Kate Kerr, or email me at kkerr@nevada.unr.edu.")