This guest post is by Ari, an autistic student preparing to study nursing who values discipline, consistency, and personal growth. Ari is applying for the Spring 2026 Making a Difference Autism Scholarship through KFM Making a Difference, the nonprofit founded by Kerry Magro. Kerry was nonspeaking until age 2.5 and was diagnosed with autism at 4.
Ari is a pseudonym used at the applicant’s request. A stock photograph is used to protect their privacy.
Autistics on Autism: The Next Chapter shares stories from more than 100 autistic adults about what helped them while growing up and pursuing their dreams. All proceeds support KFM Making a Difference initiatives, including this scholarship program. To invite Kerry to speak at your school, company, or organization, submit an inquiry here.
I value discipline, consistency, and growth. Living with autism has shaped how I approach challenges and helped me develop resilience and attention to detail. I hope to use these qualities to help my community as a nurse.
Growing up on the autism spectrum has shaped how I see the world, how I respond to challenges, and how I understand myself. While others may move through life more naturally, I have often had to be more intentional—with my thoughts, my actions, and my persistence. What might seem like small tasks to others sometimes required extra effort from me, but those experiences have quietly built my resilience and discipline.
One of the most defining parts of my journey has been learning how to stay committed even when things feel overwhelming. A clear example of this is my experience with piano and the Certificate of Merit Level 10 exam. After my first attempt at the exam, I felt discouraged and didn’t want to try again. Practicing every day and giving up my weekends felt exhausting, and I questioned whether it was worth it. However, with encouragement from my mom and my piano teacher, I decided to continue. That decision taught me an important lesson: growth comes from pushing through hard things, even when I am scared. When I finally passed, it was a relief because I didn’t have to prepare for the exam again. I could play anime songs that I liked.
Living with autism also influenced how I approach relationships and communication. I learned to observe carefully, listen closely, and think before I respond. Social situations never come easily, but they have taught me to be patient and to be aware. Just as I had to try again with the CM test, I see that even if I fail, that it’s not a big deal. I can try again until I succeed. I have come to understand that everyone experiences the world differently, and this perspective has helped me to become more empathetic toward others. I saw things as being too hard or that people might not like me because of my differences. Instead of seeing differences as obstacles, I have learned to see them as opportunities to connect in more meaningful ways. Some people might not like me, but more people are open when I try to engage with them.
Another important part of my growth has been developing consistency. Structure and routine have helped me stay focused and grounded, especially during stressful times. When we bought a treadmill when I was 11 years old, my parents said that I could only watch TV if I was running on it. I took this opportunity and ran an hour every day. This trick helped me realize that exercising made me happy and also, I was getting taller and stronger. Whether it is keeping up with schoolwork, practicing piano, or exercising, I have learned that small, consistent efforts lead to long-term results. This mindset has helped me succeed academically and prepare for my future.
As I prepare to enter college as a nursing student, I carry these lessons with me. Nursing is a field that requires patience, attention to detail, and compassion—qualities I have developed through my experiences. I’m not sure if I can do it and it’s very scary. However, I believe that my perspective will allow me to connect with professors, classmates, and patients in the future in a thoughtful and understanding way, especially those who may feel overlooked or misunderstood. I want to be someone who not only provides care, but also makes people feel seen and respected.
Growing up on the autism spectrum has not always been easy, but it has given me strengths that I might not have developed otherwise. It has taught me discipline, resilience, and empathy. It has shown me that progress is not always fast or visible, but it is always meaningful when I persevere. Most importantly, it has helped me understand that challenges are not something to avoid—they are something to work through. With this in mind, I’m going to try to remind myself every day that I’m going to try my best at the given task for today.
My journey is still ongoing, but I am no longer focused on what feels difficult. Instead, I focus on what I am capable of becoming. I hope to make meaningful connections with teachers, classmates, and everyone that comes in between. Through persistence, support, and faith, I have learned to move forward with confidence. I hope to use my experiences not only to continue growing myself, but also to support and uplift others in my community.
By Ari
Featured image: stock photograph by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash. It does not depict the applicant.
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also autistic, founded KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help autistic students receive scholarship support for post-secondary education. Help us continue this work by making a tax-deductible donation here.
You can also invite Kerry to speak at your next event by submitting an inquiry here. Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofits, parent groups, and conferences on autism, employment, college success, mental health, inclusion, and bullying prevention.
