This guest post is by Hunter Heyob, a young man who is diagnosed with autism and will attend the Cincinnati State Culinary Program. Hunter 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: 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.
I have been accepted to go to Cincinnati State in the fall of 2025. I was diagnosed with autism at age 3. I am the first born, so my mom and dad really didn’t know what to expect. I went on many appointments, including speech therapy. I had some great teachers who always believed in me and helped me along the way.
I plan to study culinary arts at Cincinnati State here in Ohio when I graduate. I have always loved food and helping my mom make recipes. I work part-time at a restaurant as a line cook, but I was recently promoted to an expo runner. This means I deliver food to tables. I like this a lot because it is fast-paced and fun! I have a lot of fun at work because it lets me talk to people and friends.
Getting a scholarship would help me achieve my dream of becoming a chef, which I have always wanted to be. I have worked at Pizza Hut and now at Fretboard. I live in Harrison, Ohio, and go to Harrison High School. I even made the soccer team when I was a sophomore. I also help my dad at his farm, where he has cows. We bale hay and have a garden with tomatoes and a lot of other things. I am part of a Youth Group at my church, St. John’s the Baptist in Harrison, Ohio. We offer free babysitting and meet every Sunday. We also volunteer to help in our community. I live with my mom, dad, and my brother Hudson. He does not have a disability.
For me, living with autism has been both a challenge and a gift. I have learned a lot about what it means for me and why I may have a hard time with certain things. I don’t like to ask questions in front of others, so I hope that by being in college, I can make more friends while doing something I love. Talking about food is a good topic for me. I work hard and am happy that I get to go to college. In the future, I would like to get married and have children. Right now, I have never had a girlfriend, but I am hoping to meet new people when I go to college.
One of the most significant challenges has been communication. Social interactions are difficult for me. Misreading social cues or struggling to keep up with conversations has sometimes led to feelings of isolation. Crowded environments, with their overwhelming noise and sensory input, can leave me drained and anxious, making it necessary for me to have some time by myself when I get home from school. Routine and structure are important to me. They provide a sense of security and predictability in a world that often feels chaotic. However, when unexpected changes arise, they can cause me stress. This has taught me to advocate for myself, whether it’s asking for clarity in instructions or explaining my needs to others. I also notice things that others might overlook and am very detail-oriented. At times, this makes school hard, especially because we have substitutes a lot.
Living with autism means experiencing the world in different and special ways. Autism is something that can make talking, making friends, or dealing with loud noises and bright lights a little harder. But it also means having amazing strengths and interests that make each person unique. Some people with autism might feel uncomfortable in noisy places or don’t like being in crowded spaces. They might prefer things to stay the same and feel upset if plans change. Talking with others can sometimes be tricky, too. Some people with autism speak a lot, while others use pictures, devices, or other ways to share their thoughts. Even though it can be hard sometimes, people with autism are really good at things they love. They might be creative, great at solving puzzles, or know everything about a favorite topic like dinosaurs or space. With help from my friends and family, I know I can be successful. Thank you for your consideration.
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.
