This guest post is by Jacob Thornton, a young man with autism who attends North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Jacob is applying for the Spring 2023 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: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams, our nonprofit’s new book, was released on March 29, 2022, on Amazon here for our community to enjoy featuring the stories of 100 autistic adults.
The day had finally arrived for me to load all my belongings into two minivans and head to college. Although I was excited to start this new chapter in my life, I was nervous and scared. My college was only an hour and fifteen minutes away from home, but it felt much farther away. After arriving and unloading everything into my dorm room it was time for my parents and sister to say goodbye. This is when it hit me. I was alone, in a new city, a new school, surrounded by people I did not know. This would be my first time living away from home.
Although this may seem like a typical story for a student headed off to college, for a person with autism it could be a nightmare. I was pulled completely out of my comfort zone. I went from what was routine and predictable to what seemed chaotic and unfamiliar. I felt overwhelmed and faced the real possibility of success or failure.
I had so many questions ranging from my class schedule to where I would eat or do laundry. I wondered if I would like my dorm room or get along with my suitemates. Being in the honors program meant high expectations and extracurricular activities. I was required to maintain a high GPA, complete community service hours, and attend lectures and cultural events. Although I am no social butterfly, I had no choice but to meet new people and engage in new experiences. It seemed like so many things were being thrown at me all at once. It was stressful just thinking about everything I had to do. For a brief moment, I questioned whether I had made the right choice in going to college.
I sat, as I always did, in deep thought and my world. I recalled all the difficult situations and challenges I encountered in my life. At first, I would struggle, get help, and figure a way out. Why would college be any different? I calmed down, took a deep breath, and remembered all the things that worked for me up to this point. Things like schedules, agendas, repetition, and routines were critical to my success. It turns out that my transition to college would be a reminder that I am resilient and capable of adapting to new environments and situations.
The summer before I went to college, I researched as much as I could about my college. I must have seen hundreds of YouTube videos, reviewed the school’s website, and visited the campus several times. I even arranged to meet with one of the professors in my major to understand the curriculum and expectations of the program. I found this helpful in easing some of my fears of the unknown.
Although I was totally fine just sitting in my small dorm room, I knew I had to make an effort to get out and explore the campus. Before classes began, I went to the cafeteria, walked my class schedule, and even did my first load of laundry. I also figured out that to do well in school I had to come up with a schedule that included exercise, getting plenty of rest, and eating a balanced meal. Slowly but surely I became more comfortable in my new surroundings.
Like any other student, there were times when I felt homesick. I discovered I could use technology to stay in touch with family and friends. Video calls and texting were the main ways I connected to home. Being only an hour and fifteen minutes away, I could go home on some weekends or holidays.
On a busy college campus, I learned how to speak up and ask for help when I did not understand something. This reduced the likelihood of confusion and misunderstandings. In classes, I was forced to work in teams and give presentations. It is not my favorite thing to do but I seem to get better each time I do it. I understand the importance of taking care of myself. No one is around to remind me to do this. So it is all up to me.
Looking back, I can say that my first year in college has been eye-opening and transformational. I am proud to have done well in meeting all the requirements of the honors program. I received a 3.94 GPA, attended several lecture series and cultural events, as well as completed hours of community service. What I am most proud of is how I navigated everyday life activities like doing my laundry, cleaning my room, managing my finances, and figuring out how to get around campus. No matter how difficult the situation, I am glad I never gave up. I tried to learn a lesson from each failure or disappointment. I now feel better about transitioning to an adult.
I will always need to remind myself that having autism does not limit me. It is my superpower, filled with challenges but also special gifts and abilities. With the right support, I am resilient and even amazing. I can achieve anything I set out to accomplish and transitioning to college is the perfect example of this.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, Tiktok, Youtube & Instagram.
My name is Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum. I started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue post-secondary education. Help support me so I can continue to help students with autism go to college by making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit here.
Autistics on Autism: Stories You Need to Hear About What Helped Them While Growing Up and Pursuing Their Dreams was released on March 29, 2022 on Amazon here for our community to enjoy featuring the stories of 100 autistic adults. 100% of the proceeds from this book will go back to our nonprofit to support initiatives like our autism scholarship program. In addition, this autistic adult’s essay you just read will be featured in a future volume of this book as we plan on making this into a series of books on autistic adults.
