Individualized Education Pathway Scholarship

Picture this: navigating through the world with autism, is like trying to beat a video game on the hardest setting while your controller's missing a button and your screen keeps glitching. Welcome to my epic quest, where speech struggles, language delays are the dragons I slay and relationships the prize I seek. Grab your imaginary virtual reality glasses and buckle up for the ride of navigating school with autism. In the first level, let's call it the Speech Lagoon, words fled from my mind and mouth like elusive fireflies in the night. It was a labyrinth where words seemed to hide behind corners, playing a game of hide-and-seek. Life with me seemed like an endless game of charades, where I pointed and grunted until a secret cheat code emerged and I finally was able to speak. From grunts to words to echoing "Cars" movie lines and finally an original sentence. My linguistic journey felt like leveling up. Although I still struggle at times to find the right words to say, scouring my mind, many years of speech therapy and playful word engineering ravaged books, opening up a world of speech and play. The next level would provide new abilities and comprehension. In this world I have learned that each of one of us has to enjoy the journey at their own pace. Similar to the Minecraft universe where you build your world when you can, but time will still pass. I've experimented with various strategies to increase my language processing time to complete tests faster, improve my speech, and enhance my skills. Most importantly, I've realized, it's okay to be me. Learning to accept myself has helped me overcome societal challenges, one level at a time. Striving for improvement is essential, but the patience I've gained has been the key to showcasing all I can be. Now, one of my latests triumphs, the social puzzle challenge. Where connections are as rare as winning the lottery. Picture me, a detective, solving the friendship mystery one awkward encounter at a time. Meanwhile, patience and perseverance continue to be my power boosts through life. My motivation to continue my education is not just personal, it's about helping others facing similar obstacles. I want to create technology like the apps that helped me learn how to write when I refused to touch a pencil. I want to start a non-profit and create technological solutions for those with autism and members of underrepresented minorities. If life gives you lemons, why not make lemonade?