Akilli's House Autism Empowerment Scholarship

Living in Alabama can be a challenge at times. There are many wild and dangerous animals, as well as tornadoes, flash floods, and severe heat waves and droughts. Living with autism is a challenge all the time. I never know when it is my turn to speak, when to laugh, when to be quiet, trying to figure out if I am missing any social cues, having to turn down hangouts with friends because I am feeling burnt out, and much more. In a way, living in Alabama and living with autism overlap in ways that we may have never thought of before. I always remember being treated as a wild animal, as if my peers seemed almost afraid to interact with me, and I was scared to interact with them. I was always scared to be around other people because I felt that they might be a snake in the grass; most likely harmless, but it is still important not to poke them with a stick. Alabama's weather is always a marvel. There is an old saying that goes 'If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes', and this could not be any closer to the truth. Sometimes, with autism, I constantly feel like there is a storm going on in my brain, going from a tornado to a sunny day, to a flash flood, to a severe no-burn zone drought. I find it hard at times to make plans or accomplish simple tasks due to the wild amount of weather changes going on in my head (and it most likely does not help that it is 104°F outside either). While Alabama has its challenges, it also has its wonderful and amazing qualities. Alabama is known for its wide range of biodiversity and beautiful hiking trails and waterfalls. After a long, hot hike, there is nothing better than taking your shoes and socks off and playing in the nice, cool water. While I may not know how to respond to certain social situations, I do know how to be a good listener and show compassion. I am very good at helping people follow rules and am always very punctual. To me, while having autism can be hard, like the first part of a hike, there are also times when it is rewarding, like the nice cool shaded creek. While living in Alabama is hard and having autism is also hard, I would not change it for the world. These two things have shaped me into the person I am today, the person I am still turning out to be. I want to succeed in college to be an inspiration to other autistic people, to show them that while life may feel like a bunch of mosquito bites, there is always a strawberry popsicle around the corner.