As you may have noticed I have not been very active on my blog recently and that is for a very exciting reason – I have been busy starting university! I have come a very long way since my first blog post, and I want to share my university experience so far.
If I think back to September, I would not have thought I would have been this successful in my first semester. Success for me is not simply academic, but also about my independence, wellbeing and the social side of things.
The semester started with a welcome week – also known as freshers – that was very full on. The very first event was a night in the student union. I must admit I had been adamant that a club night like this was not for me; too loud, too busy, too late and full of drunk students. But meeting someone who encouraged me to go and stepping out of my comfort zone, was the best decision I could have made.
Key to the decision to go out on the first night was that I was open to my friend that I was autistic and would leave if it got too much for me. I went in with a plan if I got overwhelmed, and I also brought my ear defenders with me. Thankfully, against all my expectations, it was really fun.
This sums up my first semester: that stepping outside of your comfort zone can be challenging, but it can also be greatly beneficial. Throughout the rest of welcome week, I threw myself in to all the available activities and events. It set me up for the rest of the week and, in fact, the whole semester.
After my welcome week experience, moving into my studio flat was the next sign of hope to me that university would be good. There have been times in my life that my parents and I would not think I would be able to live alone, especially at 18 – but I have proved myself wrong.
During my gap year I practiced making meals, going on public transport, and even remembering to shower and do my laundry without needing reminded. Whilst these things might seem simple, they have been huge milestones in my journey. All of this practice – as well as support from my family and friends – has allowed me to flourish living independently. What really shows this is that I was so excited to get back to university life after the Christmas holidays!
When choosing my course, I really wanted something I knew I would enjoy. My autism means that I find it hard to motivate myself without having a real interest first. Luckily my modules, which are psychology, sociology and education, have been really engaging. This has made it easier for me to attend lectures, study, and complete my assignments. I have also noticed that a lot of my course links to my advocacy work for autistic individuals, which has fuelled my goals in this area.
Whilst you go to university to get a degree, this is only part of the experience. Another important element so far has been joining societies. This is where I have met the most like-minded people as well as keeping me active and out of my flat. Before starting university everyone will tell you to join societies – but it really is the best advice! It helps you to meet people outside of your courses and fill up your evenings when you need a break from studying.
Similar to societies, I also really enjoy the resident assistant events. Resident assistants are 3rd and 4th year students who plan free activities throughout the week. As an autistic person, I really thrive when I am busy (and there’s only so much studying you can do) so these events are the perfect way to have some chill time. I have been to a quiz night, tote bag painting and Halloween decoration making and even a Christmas market.
I have written about how amazing university is (which is true!), but I aim to be honest on my blog so I will not sugar coat it. There are many challenges along the way, and though this is true for all students I do believe autistic students can have even more barriers. The biggest thing is that people are hard! Especially as someone who didn’t particularly have friend at school, it is an adjustment. People will annoy you; you just need to find ways to live with it.
Another point is that plans will change. I thrive with control of my environment and university but there are still things that are unpredictable. It is important to continue developing coping strategies. Personally, I have come so far since a few years ago however I also know I need to work hard to keep this up. I think university is all about pushing yourself but sometimes you just need to go on a quiet walk or sit in your bed and watch Netflix.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped me in this journey. I am very proud of myself and there a so many people I could not have done it without. I am very excited to keep my blog updated with what comes up next in my journey.
Stay tuned for my blog post ‘My Top Tips for Autistic Students’ coming soon!
I am autistic 