This guest post is by Alex McCord, a young man on the autism spectrum who wants to become a neurosurgeon doctor to save people’s lives. Alex is applying for the Spring 2025 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship via the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference started by me, Kerry Magro. I was nonverbal till 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at 4 and you can read more about my organization here.
Autistics on Autism the Next Chapter: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams will be released on Amazon on 3/25/25 and looks at the lives over 75 Autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to supporting our nonprofits many initiatives, like this scholarship program. Check out the book here.
I started noticing my way to be when I was about nine years old. My peers started to avoid me because I was somewhat different from them. From then on things started to change. I no longer had people to hang out with. As one may imagine, for a long time I was feeling pretty lonely. Then my parents took me to the doctors to find out how they could help me. I started to understand many things and the quest began. Something that helped me was my introduction to the 4-H club.
Until this day I have been involved in the 4-H club for ten years. The club has given me the opportunity to develop those leadership skills in me. As a member one chooses projects every year and learns from them. We produce displays, videos, devices, or anything depending on the projects one has chosen. The most important goal is to learn well, so that I can make demonstrations, know what to say about my projects and share what I know to my audience. In addition to these experiences, I have participated in speech contests like impromptu and prepared speech. Another good experience is when I have the opportunity to share my knowledge with the smaller members of the club or people that want to know more about the topics or things in general.
These experiences have impacted me in the right way, being beneficial to my confidence. Before, I was afraid of speaking in public, especially in front of my classmates. However, getting prepared for it, and using some tactics I learned for that were pretty helpful and gave me courage to get myself in front of the people and as soon as I take the first words, everything else comes easier. When I think about what kind of leader I have become, I think of myself as somebody that has overcome the fear of facing many people in my speeches or demonstrations. One that is ready and prepared to stand in front of the crowd. The critical eyes used to make me nervous and made me forget all the things I was needed to say. Now it’s different, I have achieved priceless experience to win my audience by engaging them with clear and good information, improvising a little to encourage participation, make questions, and feel in control of the audience.
At this point in life I am proud to say that I have accomplished good grades in regular school and dual classes, despite knowing that I don’t have the same way and ease of study as other students. By being on the spectrum and having ADHD has been a challenge throughout my life. I had to overcome many obstacles with my condition because I learn in a different way, I had to get over all the whispering of my classmates behind my back. Most of them think that they are smarter than me. It is true I have some times to be re-directed and reminded to go back to my tasks for being fidgeting, but I am perseverant too and that is one of my qualities and can recognize my deadlines to complete my work. My dual classes are oriented towards biology and chemistry, which are part of the requirements for medical school. With my conditions I learned since my diagnosis that I perform better by doing things with my hands so, I chose to pursue health to ultimately become a neurosurgeon. I am ready for college and to tackle all barriers in my way to get my bachelor’s degree. Next, it will be another four years of pre-medical school, then residency in general surgery, then neurosurgery residency. I know it’s going to be a long journey, but I still want to persist in this career. It will not be easy but that is what I want for me and I will achieve it.
I also want to continue helping others by taking notice of some situations. There is a large part of the population without medical services in rural areas, I am determined to work on my dream goal and help the rural communities. I am sure I can do it, I am a resilient person. I have the drive to learn and push no matter the problems I may encounter in the future. We have to see things in a positive way. Despite my situation, I can still see the good things in my life. Winning this scholarship will help me with some expenses like a dorm, meals or books to study.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education. Help us continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Also, consider having Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
