This guest post is by Grant Pribyl, a young man on the autism spectrum who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 11 months and has been accepted into Minnesota State University. Grant is applying for the Spring 2022 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.
My name is Grant Pribyl. I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when I was 11 months old. I am now a senior in high school and want to go to college to study Geology. It is one of my special interest areas (which many individuals with ASD have specific topics they are passionate about). I have collected rocks, read books about rocks, traveled to see volcanoes, and even had a rock-themed birthday party (with a geology professor on hand) to teach the kids at my party all about the Mohs hardness scale. I want to pursue a degree to further study this special interest.
I have had many challenges throughout the years, but having Occupational, Social, and Physical Therapy has been extremely helpful, as was having a one-on-one paraprofessional through ninth grade.
One of my “symptoms” of ASD is impulsivity — acting quickly without thinking. I also have sensory issues and difficulty with executive functioning.
During a game of dodgeball in elementary school, a ball hit me, and the other kids started yelling at me telling me I was out. I knew in my head that I’d been struck and was out, but the sensory overload of the others yelling at me and continuing to throw balls at me set my brain and body into overdrive.
I just wanted the noise to stop. So, I ran toward the bleachers and told everyone to just leave me alone! I even grabbed my Special Ed teacher’s sweater and tore it off her and it ripped it in pieces. I was having a meltdown.
It took three adults to bring me back to the Special Ed room. Then, it took quite a while for me to calm down. I had to write a letter of apology to the other kids and my teacher and make plans on how to prevent future incidents.
Having meltdowns is embarrassing and something I don’t want to do. Through the years, I have learned coping strategies to help avoid escalating things again. I have learned to recognize what triggers me and work extremely hard to notice the triggers that may result in a meltdown.
Because I would act out on my impulsivity, and because of my sensory issues, some kids would make fun of me, and others were afraid of me. That is why I had a one-on-one paraprofessional until high school – someone who could recognize when something triggered me and was able to help prevent a meltdown before it happened. I now know if my anxiety gets too much, I remove myself from the situation and go to the Resource Room at school to calm down.
This is just one of many examples of challenging situations I have faced. I don’t want to hurt others. It makes me feel terrible. Thanks to my parents, teachers, and paras who have helped me with coping — whether it’s been by wearing noise-canceling headphones, being told social stories so I know what to expect, or avoiding certain situations which may overwhelm me. I want to be patient and empathetic toward others.
As I matured, I learned coping skills and didn’t need a one-on-one paraprofessional after ninth grade. I still have an I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan) and other supports and accommodations through Special Education.
Despite the social issues caused by ASD, I am very smart and have done well in school with my grades and test scores. (I have taken several AP courses and have a GPA of 3.32 and obtained a twenty-eight on my ACT; with a 35 score in science). I have received many letters from colleges interested in having me attend. However, I chose Minnesota State University, Mankato, because it is in my hometown near my support system. I plan to live at home for my freshman year because going to University will be a big change in itself.
Perseverance is how I’ve made it through school. My meltdowns have caused trouble. But I have worked through them with the assistance of others and have made it to this point. I am now looking forward to this next chapter in my life.
And the teacher whose sweater I ripped… She is one of the most awesome teachers I’ve had. Her remarkable patience (and the support of many others) taught me skills that helped me make it through the rest of my school career. And I’m pleased to say, she’s coming to my graduation party in June. Hmm, I wonder if I should take up knitting to replace her sweater? I’d better get right on that!
My path hasn’t always been smooth, but I’m proud to say I have been accepted at Minnesota State University, Mankato for Fall 2022 where I will major in Geology! My dream is to work for the United State Geological Survey.
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.
