This guest post is by Leonard Anderson, a young man who attends Tuskegee University. He is an advocate 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 was 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.
The general aviation industry includes the manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and operation of aircraft that are not used for scheduled commercial air service or operated by the military. I am specifically interested in designing innovative aircraft of all types. I want to make air travel safer in general for all who fly. I have always been curious and fascinated with the very idea of flight. I think about my future and what I want to do with my life. I think about how I can merge all my passions and interests in the aviation world. From my earliest recollection, I have been taught to live within my means. The lessons from my father and mother have been to ‘fix it first,” when items in our house break. When repairing items is impossible, and all other options are exhausted, then buy new. Those lessons sparked my passion for wanting to become an engineer. I became known as “Mr. Fixit” around our household. Fixing household items grew into a fascination with designing airplanes, tanks, and trains. I have taken several high school courses in engineering, and I competed on the Robotics Competition Team at my school. I aspire to have a career at NASA or a major aviation company, such as Lockheed-Martin or Boeing. My ultimate goal is to protect air safety in flying in general. We have had so many flight incidents lately- all of them being caused by human error and poor-quality control. I want to change safety regulations through the design and assembly of modern-day aircraft. That would eventually increase public confidence in flying.
Over my years of education, I am proud of how far I have come from my diagnosis of autism at 10 years old until now. Showing grit and persevering for every small accomplishment is synonymous with my drive to become an aviation engineer. I am determined to apply myself to doing anything necessary to achieve that end. My autism allows me to see things differently than the norm. It also allows me to approach problems in unconventional ways, until the main goal is ultimately produced. Becoming an engineer means you inherently want to solve problems for the good of humanity. The constant trials of approaching a problem yield to the preservation of a desired result. I am caring and compassionate in how I see things. I am committed to changing methods to adapt to a changing world. In my area specifically, my sleek designs will add to the body of knowledge that defies aerodynamics. I have also had to overcome my father’s death at the age of seven. His memory inspires me to have big dreams and to push me to become an aerospace engineer in underrepresented communities.
My life is fairly simple. I trust in God and live a simple life. My plan to pursue a career in general aviation is to first graduate from high school as an honor student. Next, I will enroll in a four-year university with a rigorous course load of mathematics and engineering classes. Sounds like fun? Not really, perhaps even dull, and boring, but engineering is the basis for every gadget, appliance, and ‘thing’ we own. The flexibility that an engineering degree offers is one of the many reasons I decided to dive into the mechanical side of it.
The college I have chosen is nationally recognized for its aerospace engineering department. During my college years, I will participate in research internships, mentorships, and aviation conferences to increase my knowledge in this innovative field. I will jump at every chance for firsthand experiences that come my way. It may take me five years to complete my first degree due to the demanding program of study, however, I am determined to finish strong. A side goal of mine is to complete college debt-free. One of the biggest dream-killers of life is student-loan debt. Vowing to have that option as a last resort, I implore and thank you for this scholarship opportunity. With merit scholarships and generous benefactors, I will complete college once again as an honor graduate and hopefully debt-free. Moving forward, I want to enroll in a Master’s/ PhD program to obtain that terminal degree in my field of study. I will continue to research this field and advance the wealth of knowledge for general aviation safety. Knowing I have added to the prevention of a single life will satisfy my professional career, but it will fulfil my life’s goal and service others.
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!
