Journey Into Autism

Ever since I was a little girl, I always felt a bit different. I had trouble making friends with kids my own age and gravitated toward my parents’ friends instead - getting invited to adult dinner parties where I would talk politics and philosophy while taking bites of my chicken tenders. I was your quintessential bookworm and teacher’s pet all the way through high school. I made straight A’s, was enrolled in a gifted program and then specialty center, and was always “a pleasure to have in class” on my report card. But underneath the honor roll certificates and the frequent accolades, I was struggling more than anyone knew. I had a brain that was wired differently - prone to overstimulation, anxiety, and executive dysfunction. While I could eventually show up with little preparation and ace whatever test was before me, I would use any excuse to leave class in the process. My mind was constantly racing, I hated sitting still, and I was either bored or overwhelmed - or both at once. When I looked around me, I felt as though everyone had been given a manual for life - explaining social skills, calming strategies, and how to be a "normal" person - and I must have been out sick that day. 

It wasn’t until my early adulthood that I started to mingle with like-minded people, and I learned about neurodiversity: the idea that different people have different kinds of brains, and those differences help keep the world spinning! I have a brain that is great at writing, understanding big concepts, and practicing empathy with anyone I meet - but I needed to learn strategies to help with my organization, my time management, and my anxiety. 

While I was still discovering myself, I found I felt the most at peace in nature. On the top of a mountain peak, staring out past the trees, I was always reminded of my place in this vast, beautiful world, even when it felt like I didn’t fit it. At Mosaic Pathways, I aim to be the mentor that I needed when I was young - someone to say “you are exactly who you are meant to be.” I dream of a world where school is not synonymous with grades and standardized testing, but instead with personal growth. A place where a child learns about their strengths and abilities, while also learning strategies that will enable them to reach their greatest potential as they move through adulthood. Through my journey to find myself, I likewise found a supportive community, a love of the natural world, and a passion for thinking “outside of the box.” Now, it’s my turn to help guide the next generation of exceptional minds through their own personal journey of self-discovery.