This guest post is by Riley Taylor, a young woman on the autism spectrum who was accepted into Shenandoah University Conservatory. Riley is applying for the Spring 2021 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.
I hope you can support my nonprofit like I’m trying to support these students with scholarship aid for college. Learn more on how you can help our cause with a small donation (just asking for $3 today, equal to your daily cup of coffee) here.
I was diagnosed with autism when I was two years old. Seventeen years ago, when I was diagnosed, is too long ago for me to remember. Thirteen years ago, when I started Kindergarten, one of the hardest chapters of my life began. In elementary school, I felt trapped. Trapped in people’s misunderstanding. I didn’t know it then, but the lack of understanding came from a lack of knowledge.
In the early 2000s, autism was still a fairly new topic of research and while it was wonderful to see society grow, the early 2000s society trapped me. The worst part was, everyone thought they knew what they were talking about. Everyone told me I didn’t understand emotions or social cues. Everyone told me how to act in certain places, and stimming, the thing that kept me focused, was limited, and sometimes even discouraged, because it was viewed as nothing but a social distraction.
All of these things made me angry, but I didn’t speak out because I was worried no one would believe a young child. Seven years ago, when I started middle school, I started choir. I always loved singing, but I wasn’t offered choir classes until sixth grade. Twelve-years-old may seem like a young age to fall in love, but from that day on, music has been the love of my life. Society was getting better at understanding autism, and even if things didn’t go as planned, I had music to make me feel like I could express myself.
Five-years-ago, in eighth grade, I slowly began to talk about how my brain actually works. I told people how I actually did understand social cues, but thought honesty was the better route. My parents learned to let me stim when necessary, and in turn I didn’t feel like I needed to stim constantly. Four years ago, when I started high school, I declared music my forever love by choosing music education as a career. I formed a strong friend group with friends who work really hard to understand me.
A year and a half ago, I started class in the Chamber Ensemble. It was one of the best things to happen to me in high school. I was surrounded by people who love what I love. A year ago, most of that was ripped away. When the Covid-19 Pandemic started, I was very down I couldn’t see my friends who loved and understood me. I couldn’t do what I loved with the people I loved. I once again felt trapped, but this time I was trapped in society’s fear and trapped in isolation.
I wondered why this was happening to my generation. Then, I remembered what I went through during the early years of my life, and thought about what I could do better. I wrote my own music, contacted friends, and talked about what I was feeling. This got me through what was hopefully the hardest year of my life.
Four months ago, I was accepted into the college of my choice to study what I love.
Last month, I was allowed to go back to school, basically bringing me to the joy I’ve wanted back for so long.
Today, I am a happy senior in high school.
Today, I have just completed All-State Chorus, along with many other accomplishments.
Today, I am surrounded by people who love and understand me.
Today, society has come so far, and understands mostly how to work with me instead of working on me. What I have learned through all of this is that hard work will get you far. I’ve learned that instead of blaming other people for misunderstanding me, I can help them to learn. I’ve learned that my passion can be whatever I want it to be. Finally, I’ve learned that I need my passion, and I can create something beautiful by combining my passion with my story.
One month from now, I will be nineteen years old. A few years from now, I hope to speak to the world through teaching music.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, & Instagram!
My name is Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum that started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a 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.
