I was diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism when I was 2 years old. Autism was not that recognized in the early 1990s. I've never understood why my social skills were weird in high school; I just couldn't fit in. Being in Band made me a shining star. I was in color guard and winterguard from grades 10-12. My GPA from high school was a 3.67. Central Arizona College was my next step and I loved learning about the real world. Graduated with my Associate's of Business degree with a 3.5 GPA.
In Fall of 2012, I decided that I wanted to learn more about different kinds of disabilities. Northern Arizona University has a great Speech-Language Pathology Assistance program so I chose that for my major. My favorite class so far is SLPA- Childhood Communication Disorders. I had the opportunity to observe at my local preschool for my assignment. Then, I discovered a flyer about their 1st Annual Special Olympics program. It was for preschoolers with disabilities that are in blended classes. I volunteered to teach the children how to dance; it was a lot of fun.
This December, I am going to graduate with my SLPA degree so I can help children, their families, and people change their lives. Always remember, you have a voice, no matter what. Do not let people bring you down.
Phoenix, AZ