What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. While my disability was masked, I later found another piece of my identity being shed to light, discovering I was gay. Navigating life with autism felt both enlightening and overwhelming. My experience of understanding social norms and emotions has always been different, so recognizing and accepting my attraction to the same gender brought layers of self-discovery and triumphs. I had to untangle what felt like a double complexity, by understanding my feelings in a world that often felt foreign, while also trying to decode the social expectations around sexuality and in an already. But in time, I began to see that my unique way of processing the world also gave me a fresh perspective on identity and authenticity. Embracing my sexuality on my own terms has empowered me to connect with others in genuine, meaningful ways. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture, so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. I have also had philately as a hobby because it can be accessible and enjoyable for people of all abilities, including those with autism like myself. It offers a calm, focused activity that can be done at your own pace, whether you're collecting stamps based on colors, themes, or countries. It's very sensory-friendly and can be done from home, with many affordable or even free options, like asking friends and family to save their mail. The community around philately is welcoming, with many online groups where collectors of all ages and abilities share their collections and knowledge. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture, so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the societal stigma and pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture, so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. When my mother was with child, she unfortunately became seriously ill and had major health complications. She became very ill and because she was expecting, this emphasized the danger of her illness. Because of this she had to deliver me earlier than my expected due date. I had average vitals however over time I did not possess normal social skills and was later diagnosed with a birth defect. Born premature, and underweight, I was later diagnosed with ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, this has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. My own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. On a positive note, I had the opportunity to be in an Interior Architect 4-year course offered at my high school. The program was taught in a manner to develop competencies in the areas of interior architecture industry. It was taught from basic principles of interior design to real world design applications and finally client presentations. This intensive 4 year program helped expand my interest into my passion of becoming an Interior Architect. I also had the opportunity to shadow an accomplished designer in the New York area which enabled me to get real world experience and skills in both residential and commercial projects. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of Architecture so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability. I would like to design more accessible spaces foras a person with Autism.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture, so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education aide. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture. Where I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. Even with extended family, I was accused of “faking it” as the Latino community believes that it was a façade and that I was doing it for attention. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills, able to manage my finances, and even function independently. This has been in due part thanks to my mother who has significantly improved my social skills and I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled, however I know that I will always be on the Autism Spectrum. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to many long-term chronic illnesses. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the Architecture field so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently at my university. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled however I still know that I can never outgrow my disability. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability or my anxiety. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture, so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture, so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I would like to create my own design firm as a person with Autism. I would also like for my firm to develop projects to help all individuals with disabilities and most importantly hire those with disabilities who often are overlooked or underrepresented within the workforce. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. This has been in due part thanks to my mother who has significantly improved my social skills and I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the Architecture field so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. This has been in due part thanks to my mother who has significantly improved my social skills and I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the Architecture field so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. When my mother was with child, she unfortunately became seriously ill and had major health complications. She became very ill and because she was expecting, this emphasized the danger of her illness. Because of this she had to deliver me earlier than my expected due date. I had average vitals however over time I did not possess normal social skills and was later diagnosed with a birth defect. I was diagnosed with ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, this has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Because of this, I was able to participate in General education throughout my academic career with other neurotypical people rather than learning through the Special Needs room. However, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I strive to be my own individual and authentic self. Because of this, I now possess full motor skills, live independently, manage my finances, and communicate to others in an appropriate manner. It has come to a point where a majority of people around me do not perceive me as disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became physically and temporarily mentally disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school while still being able to take care of my own affairs. While she was in her most vulnerable state, I have seen firsthand how ugly people are with her and they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. As a person with a disability, this makes me even more furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. Being able to afford higher education is a main concern of mine while I continue therapies that assist me in becoming an independent productive individual. In addition, my parent’s financial stability has been severely impacted since my mother has recently become disabled herself due to a long-term illness and is unable to continue her passion as a special education teacher. These new challenges have significantly impacted our family and I hope to alleviate some of the financial burden by receiving this wonderful scholarship that will allow me to pursue my dreams of becoming a self-reliant adult with an education in spite of my ASD. People with disabilities are often shunned by society as they cannot even live in peace with non-accessible public spaces and with people being discriminatory. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of others. That is why as someone with a disability, I have dedicated myself to assist those with disabilities and similar backgrounds to live in a world where accessibility is incorporated in design to benefit society.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. When my mother was with child, she unfortunately became seriously ill and had major health complications. She became very ill and because she was expecting, this emphasized the danger of her illness. Because of this she had to deliver me earlier than my expected due date. I had average vitals however over time I did not possess normal social skills and was later diagnosed with a birth defect. I was diagnosed with ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, this has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Because of this, I was able to participate in General education throughout my academic career with other neurotypical people rather than learning through the Special Needs room. However, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I strive to be my own individual and authentic self. Because of this, I now possess full motor skills, live independently, manage my finances, and communicate to others in an appropriate manner. It has come to a point where a majority of people around me do not perceive me as disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became physically and temporarily mentally disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school while still being able to take care of my own affairs. While she was in her most vulnerable state, I have seen firsthand how ugly people are with her and they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. As a person with a disability, this makes me even more furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. People with disabilities are often shunned by society as they cannot even live in peace with non-accessible public spaces and with people being discriminatory. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of others. That is why as someone with a disability, I have dedicated myself to assist others with disabilities and similar backgrounds by entering the field of architecture. My desire is to live in a world where accessibility is incorporated in design to benefit society.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. When my mother was with child, she unfortunately became seriously ill and had major health complications. She became very ill and because she was expecting, this emphasized the danger of her illness. Because of this she had to deliver me earlier than my expected due date. I had average vitals however over time I did not possess normal social skills and was later diagnosed with a birth defect. I was diagnosed with ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, this has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. So much so that I was able to participate in General education throughout my academic career with other neurotypical people rather than learning through the Special Needs room. However, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I strive to be my own individual and authentic self. Although I had overcome my hurdle with Autism, I still struggled with my sexuality. From a young age I liked things that were deemed inappropriate for a “young man” such as feminine fashions and daintier activities like sewing and baking. This caused me to be isolated apart amongst my male colleagues as I was not welcome in their groups or activities growing up. This made me even more isolated as being both autistic and queer put me in a more difficult situation as I was considered undesirable by a majority of people. However I focused on bettering myself consistently by societal norms and learned appropriate social skills that allowed me to be tolerated as got older. Recently, my own mother who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are with her and they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. People with disabilities are often shunned by society as they cannot even live in peace with non-accessible public spaces and with people being discriminatory. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of others. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the field of architecture so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. When I my mother was with child, she unfortunately be me seriously ill and had major health complications. She became very ill and because she was expecting, this emphasized the danger of her illness. Because of this she had to deliver me earlier than my expected due date. I had average vitals however over time I did not possess normal social skills and was later diagnosed with a birth defect. I was diagnosed with ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, this has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. So much so that I was able to participate in General education throughout my academic career with other neurotypical people rather than learning through the Special Needs room. However, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I strive to be my own individual and authentic self. Thanks to it, I now possess full motor skills and can even start a conversation out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even had a relationship in the past with a significant other too. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Recently, my own mother who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are with her and they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. People with disabilities are often shunned by society as they cannot even live in peace with non-accessible public spaces and with people being discriminatory. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of others. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the Accelerated Master’s Program so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

What is normal? The standards of someone “normal” are often specific and precise and usually follow an idea that is subjective. As someone who was born different, I questioned if I am “normal”. My ASD, better known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, has made me face significant daily challenges to conform to this confusing world around me. Unfortunately because of my ASD, I was non-verbal for the first 5 years of my life. I could only communicate through sign language or by pointing at objects that started with a specific letter. It impacted my life significantly as the world is not very accommodating of my disability. While these obstacles forced me to mature at a more advanced rate, I was able to correct my “flaw” by participating in intense therapies that varied from occupational to physical. Despite my disability, I have worked hard to develop strategies to be successful as a neurodiverse person. I now possess full motor skills and can start conversations out of thin air that many neurotypical people my age struggle with. I can order for myself at a restaurant, manage my finances, and even live independently. I have become aware of what is happening around me to the point that many don’t think I am disabled. Recently, my own mother, who was a former Special Needs teacher, became disabled herself. I have taken care of her by cooking and cleaning single-handedly and still managed to attend school and take care of my own affairs. I have seen firsthand how ugly people are as they treat her like livestock rather than a human being. This makes me furious as I remember being in her exact position and witnessing it from a loved one hurts even more than it being done to yourself. People with disabilities are often shunned by society because of non-accessible public spaces. All people regardless of their disability have a right to live a regular life without the strain or stress of. That is why as someone with a disability, I chose to enter the Accelerated Interior Architecture Master’s Program so I can make functional areas for all people regardless of the conditions they have. I had the opportunity to be in an Interior Architect 4-year course offered at my high school. The program was taught in a manner to develop competencies in the areas of interior architecture industry. It was taught from basic principles of interior design to real world design applications and finally client presentations. This intensive 4 year program helped expand my interest into my passion of becoming an Interior Architect. I also had the opportunity to shadow an accomplished designer in the New York area which enabled me to get real world experience and skills in both residential and commercial projects. As a person with a disability, I want to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and help society progress to the point that they will be judged by their character rather than their disability.

My experience with Autism has been a whirlwind of force that has made my life both invigorating but challenging. Autism is not just a learning disability but is also a social disability. Autism impacts every aspect of my life from choosing what college I desire for the future, to what I want to eat for breakfast. With my learning disability, it has made my learning strategies severely difficult from my own struggles and the environment around me. For example, I could be starting an exam and be really focused for a small duration (around 5 minutes), yet my attention span could focus on things entirely out of relevance such as a brightly colored poster, or another student being distributive. This makes test taking extremely overwhelming and feels like an impossible task in the heat of the moment. On a positive note, I have grown so much with my test taking skills from my younger elementary school years, to the current final years of my high school education. Tests are not the only things that come as a challenge with my learning disability, but every other aspect as well. Doing group projects at such a young age, I often had to take all the responsibility yet only accept an unfair amount of acknowledgment of accomplishment with the project and less recognition for effort. I luckily developed skills that allow me to take initiative, charge, and speak up in social situations like group projects. Even doing homework was a challenge with my energy being drained throughout the day and coming home to continue the medial tasks I had to do during the day. I have now self taught myself study skills that prove successful and have not just helped me do my homework assignments, but has helped me achieve goals in my life that are non academic. I strive to further my education for my own desire to accomplish and achieve my dreams that reach farther than the stars. I work very hard to ensure a stable future with a job that love and look forward to waking up every morning to do so. I feel that I would be a great candidate for this scholarship because I am not afraid of hard work nor am I afraid of the unknown. I want this scholarship to not just pay for some of my student loans, but to also show people just like me that they can still achieve their goals regardless of their setbacks and/ or disabilities.