I started out my young adult life pretty normal. I still had a lot of the shyness that comes along with autism, but as is the case with most small children most of the children were curious and often came up to me allowing to I open up. It wasn't until around jr. high that I started to notice I didn't understand anyone else. I tried to put myself out there and make friends. It worked to an extent because people seemed to like me, but I still had an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. I felt like I had to hide my personality and act different ways around different people. It wasn't until I went to college that I began to understand what I had which still didn't happen until years of research. Things were necessarily better at this point. My mom had tried to get me test but my stepmom tried to force me to be who she wanted and my dad denies anything that could be seen as weak. I told them what I had discovered and it was the same reaction years later. It wasn't until a close friend from jr high graduated college and reached out to reconnect that I truly started to feel "normal". I discovered what something as simple as someone reaching out for friendship could do for someone with autism. I still have trouble with social interaction but I don't feel as afraid about the future. I've began to go out with friends again and feel like I'm that much close to this ideal I use to have. When people didn't treat me weird because I'm introverted and quiet. Thru my friend people have learned to let me warm up, and not try to read me which usually leads to false opinions and extreme sadness and frustration on my part. I know things aren't perfect and probably won't ever be, but I know with a few good friends there's hope. With true friends around life doesn't seem so scary and un-comprehensible. It seems livable.

Jared Blanco
Arlington, TX