Amazing Life Journey of an Autism-Challenged Individual
Yes! There is an amazing life for an autistic individual like despite the challenges of life. I might say I am truly fortunate to have supportive parents, especially my mother who practically abandoned her career to provide for my much-needed support. My mother is a physician, yet she dedicated her time to taking care of me and my older brother who is also within the autism spectrum. As we were growing up, my mom served as our chauffer to special day class, into the regular classroom with typically growing children, to swimming lessons, piano lessons, bowling, soccer, baseball and field trips. Throughout the years, my father was the sole earner in the family, crisscrossing the world as part of his job. My mom helped us navigate the elementary, high school and college environment, kept prodding and encouraging me to work hard while guiding me to meet the challenges of school life.
Because of my autism, I had a somewhat difficult childhood but thanks to my tutors from Stanford University Autism Research and the Regional Center, I was able to graduate high school, performed in Carnegie Hall in New York as part of a high school choir, and graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in General Business from the university. After graduation, I was accepted as a management trainee in a nationwide drug store where I learned to deal with people either customers and co-workers. There I dealt with practical, operational matters such as dealing with difficult customers and shop-lifters. At the same time, I handled with great care my immediate manager who was quite erratic and rude, and my much-older co-workers with their never-ending complaints. Truly, I was quite surprised where I got those skills to handle the intricacies of the manager’s position, but I was grateful I was able to deliver what is expected of me by my supervisors.
While working, I took and passed the life and health insurance licensure tests in one try! In so doing, I have an option should I lose my day job. Right now, I am a part-time life insurance agent helping clients meet their goals in protecting their families. Concurrently, I also work in the artificial intelligence unit (AI) of one of the largest makers of electric automobile in the world.
I conclude that my achievements are the result of personal perseverance coupled with the patience of those people dear to me including my tutors, professors, supervisors at work and most especially my parents. Of course, my special thanks are reserved for my God who provided me the blessings and help I need. Indeed, I would say, there is life to adulthood for an individual challenged with autism like me. At age twenty-five, mine was an amazing one!
By Aldonesaurus
