I was born near Rammstein, Germany in an Airforce Hospital 21 years ago. Since 18 months, my parents saw something was not "right" with me. Then by 3 years, I believe I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I found out in sixth grade of Elementary School, thanks to my mother, when we made a day out of it. I realized then, that I was obviously different. Neurotypicals like to punish or ridicule me when I mess up. I once broke a beaker in Chemistry Class, and the other students made a big fuss over it. They laughed, they pointed, they were mean to me. On purpose too! I would never, ever treat them like that, so why do they treat me like that? I believe it is because I'm different, and made a mistake. I make a lot of mistakes almost daily now. I own up to them, mostly, now. People tell me that something I said or did wasn't appropriate. Like I was embarrassing them, or they didn't want anyone or anything to stand out near them. Why is this important? I don't see, or get, why it's such a big deal when I tell someone that they're fat or something. I mean, that's how it used to be though. Now, I try to not be offensive to women at all. But sometimes I fail, since I'm not the best at communicating at all anyway, even when I do try. Socialization makes me tired quickly, and I'm always tired. I run on reserves, I tend to get more mean and offensive as I get more tired. I've made mistakes mostly when tired or having taken in too much information. I just wish people would just....for the lack of a better word...accept what I say, and what I do. But that's impossible in this day and age. Uh, right. Wrapping it up. Yeah, being different is never easy. How I yearn for fitting in, even when knowing I cannot exist that way. So I mope about and stay on the internet too much. That is my story. Thank you all!

Shawn Gorton
Barre, VT