A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:At the age of 24, 5 years into my degree qualifications at a top university, I have just recieved the devastating news that I have Aspergers Syndrome.I am very intelligent and hardworking but after getting fired for the 3rd time I went to see a psychologist to conduct a root cause analysis.In a cruel twist of fate, I have wasted years of my life and lots of money to study in a field that, as it turns out,I can never work in.I feel like such a failure compared to my expectations. I have always been top of the class and it was almost a given that I would be professionally successful. I have had many incredible opportunities even in these tough economic times in multinational companies who've seen something in me and hired me only for them to conlude after a few months that it's not working out. It is incredibly frustrating to have the intelligence, the drive and the opportunities but have a mind that is simply wired differently. I feel like I have disappointed myself, and my parents. Even more so my partner with whom we had such big dreams. I know they love me unconditionally but I feel like I misled them somehow.I feel so ashamed that I'll have all these qualifications that I cannot translate put to good use. I just wish I'd known sooner. I would have chosen a different career path and adjusted my expectations accordingly. Aspies apparently tend to excel at something specific. I'd hazard a guess that my particular skill is my writing. But how does one make a living from writing? Surely many people can 'write.'Hearing any similar experiences will undoubtedly give me hope that it gets better.Do you know any professions I can get into where there is minimal team work, where multi-tasking is not absolutely essential, where I can just focus on the task at hand?Thank you so much for taking the time to read and empathise.I wish you all love and laughter and resilience in your own lives.T.
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female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (12 October 2014):
 You can not blame yourself, and no one else does either. You didn't mislead anyone, nor did you rake away any hopes. You are who you are. Look, having the diagnosis now is a GOOD thing. You have ALWAYS been who you are, and you are still just yourself, diagnosis or not. The diagnoses does NOT change anything. It is just a means to help you understand yourself in relation to others. You sought an explanation for why things didn't work out. You found the answer. Much better to actually have realized that something was different, and seek to find out more, than to ignore it and blame everyone else. I have seen several cases of people who rather than find out why things dont work, they continue doing the same thing over and over and then complain about why it never works out, or blame everyone else. You, on the other hand, you took action. You were proactive. And you found an answer, an explanation, something to help you better understand yourself in relation to others.
You didn't "get" Aspergers, you've always had it, just not diagnosed. This isn't devastating news, or doomsday. You've always been who you are, just now you have a name for it.
You are young, and these years have not been a waste. You needed these experiences in order to come to this understanding of yourself. People without Aspergers ALSO have to go through experiences of failure in order to find out what THEY excel at, and what type of work suits them better.
Without knowing what it is you have studied, or what you want to do, it is hard to tell you what work fields you can enter. I would talk to a career counselor at your university, if there is one, to find out more about your opportunities. But I would imagine that these years of studying have not at all been a waste, but rather good for you. And I imagine that whatever you have studied, you can still do, and use, in a future career. You will just have to adjust a bit, and not work with teams like you say, but find a job where your knowledge is needed, where you can work under better conditions that suit you. I am positive you will find this job, eventually. But remember, everyone, Aspergers or not, at your age everyone goes through some trial and failing in order to find out what field of work is best for them, and what they want to do with their lives.
My advice to you is to not throw away your dreams. Work with what you love doing. Just because the work-style you have tried so far hasn't been good for you, does not mean that you can not work in this field (whatever it is). You just need to have a different work-style, work-environment, or whatever you want to call it. Adjustments can be made. There is no end to how many different offices, agencies, projects etc where the same basic knowledge is used, but used in a completely different manner, and where work-styles are completely different as well. You will find your niche.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (12 October 2014): Having Aspergers is not the end of the world, I promise you.
But there is a great deal you can do with writing. I am a Creative Writing student at university and an author and poet. The masses of jobs that require writing skills is phenomenal! Advertise that you have the ability to write, whether it be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, whatever it is you write, make it very clear and people will want you.
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A
female
reader, janniepeg  +, writes (12 October 2014):
 Companies can be cruel. They know you have the intelligence to do the job but they don't have time to teach you the skill (whether it's social or multitasking) that other people take for granted. You should first look into occupational therapy to see if there's training on social skills and multitasking before you just give up. Because what if the things you need are the missing pieces of the puzzle that you just need to supplement. As long as you are willing and able to learn you are too fast to say your career is doomed. It will also be help to talk to an older aspie professional. He may be able to give you advice or at least it feels good to relate to someone similar.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (12 October 2014): Usually it so eying connected with art, like jewelry making, or computers.
Now they put diagnosis to this trates, it lots of people can't work in a team In environment or multitask. Good luck to you, you sound like a well educated and well spokesperson, you will find your career. And also stop thinking that you disssapointed Nyone. It's your life. You don't owe anything to anyone.
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