Hello my name is Taylor Sweeting and I am 25 year old Aspie working in the field of Social Work. Growing up I was always a very socially outgoing person but I sometimes wasn't very good at reading some social cues. I understood that my autism made it hard for me to read some social cues and made me a little socially awkward, but I also understood that I had a interest in people and learning more about them, especially the social and psychological aspect of them. I was told I would not be able to attend college so I didn't have to worry about looking for schooling beyond high school. With the help of my family and my cleverness I was able to take some "sick days" from school to visit colleges and see which one I liked. I decided to attend MacMurray College and study Social Work. I recently graduated with honors from MacMurray with a Bachelors in Social Work and I am now working at an agency who serves individuals with intellectual disabilities as a group home manager and program manager. I feel it is important to stick with your dreams and shoot for the stars, hope is the best motivation and it's something everyone needs and deserves. I've always said life is as exciting and satisfying as you make it, so don't stick to the side lines, get off the bench and into the game. Keep those who build you up close and the ones who break you down on the back burner, use their words of discouragement as fuel for your go get em fire. My greatest joy in life is knowing that I was told at a young age that I would be institutionalized for the rest of my life, now I work at an agency that shuts institutions down and brings it's individuals into the community, like I said dream big and never believe it is impossible, only you can determine how impossible anything is!

Taylor Sweeting
Jacksonville, IL