After the high anxiety I faced in middle school, I had no idea what to expect in high school. I thought that the workload would be more extreme since seventh and eighth grades were very intense. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised with how much the environment changed. I found the teachers were more supportive and their workloads were a lot more manageable. I also had a terrific liaison with whom I spent all four years, and he supported me the whole way through and encouraged me to become a better student. My involvement in sports and extracurricular activities played an intricate role in me making more friends and keeping busy all throughout my time in high school. Those events made me so happy to be part of a team or club, which made me feel honored to have my participation recognized. My anxiety was a lot lower since the other students were more mature and didn’t misbehave or get out of hand, and all of my teachers strictly adhered to my IEP to make me as successful as possible. I will thoroughly explain all of these details to how my time in high school was relaxing with minimal stress, and the ways that any autistic kids can succeed both in and out of the classroom.
Near the end of eighth grade, my counselor and I took a walk to the high school to meet my liaison. I was impressed by how big the school was, but even more impressed by how welcoming my liaison was. He was so friendly and wanted the transition from middle to high school to be as smooth as possible. He gave me a tour of the building, and I loved the dynamics and setup of the school and what it had to offer. While we were walking around from the gym to the cafeteria to the library and to the A and B wings, and as my liaison was talking about the programs and everything the school offered, I thought to myself, “I want to start here now.” I could instantly tell this was the school for me, with an incredible support system, great academic and extracurricular offerings, and something the middle school did not have on hot days: air conditioning. The experience of getting to tour the school ahead of time with my liaison was amazing because I got to see where all of the classrooms and major locations were, and he got to share with me everything the high school does to ensure success for students. I feel anyone entering high school that wants to see the building that isn’t part of a school trip or freshman orientation should arrange to do it with a school administrator, counselor, or liaison. Doing a private tour can reduce any anxiety and can give a clearer picture of what kids can expect when they get to the high school.
Before I started high school, I got involved with the first of many sports teams I managed. A few weeks before school started, my mom and I went to meet the football coach to see what type of role I can have to help out the team. We agreed that I could help out at practices a few times every week, and do statistics during games. I was beyond thrilled because this was the first time I got to experience being part of a real football team. Moreover, statistics are something about which I’m very passionate, and that I was going to work with one of my favorite six-grade teachers during games, I couldn’t have been happier. I would go to practices at least two or three times every week starting with the beginning of the season onward. All of the players and coaches treated me very well, and I felt so proud that they saw me not as a student helper, but as a member of the team. I would go on to manage the hockey and lacrosse teams and do my helping out at games for those sports. For hockey, I video taped and filled up waters between periods, and for lacrosse, I would do statistics and operate the scoreboard. Those activities were so much fun and I enjoyed being at games with the positive enthusiasm from the players, and the roar of the crowd during exciting and intense moments. At the end of each season, I would be honored and appreciated for my commitment, help, and support to the team. It made me so honored to feel a part of the team, and I made so many friends throughout the four years I helped with the sports teams. For any autistic kid who’s interested in sports, helping out a sports team can be an amazing activity for he or she to do. Being part of a team is an excellent way to stay busy and be part of exciting school moments, as well as a terrific way to make friends.
In the classroom, I have nothing but positive things to say about every one of my teachers. They all were so helpful to having me and my classmates succeed, and they put in so much effort to make sure we understood the material and the purpose it has on us. There are more leveled classes in high school than middle school, so the students were placed in classes based on their academic capabilities. In all of my core subjects, I felt the work and assignments were at the right pace and I didn’t get too overwhelmed when working with my teachers. Even though the teachers were independent of each other and gave assignments and exams at their own paces, they didn’t stack us too deep in work, which helped keep my stress very low. If the workload ever becomes an issue for any student, I highly recommend having the student or his or her parents reach out to the teacher to explain the situation. Usually the teacher would be happy to give in and provide assistance to obtain success, such as assisting on a project or giving extended time. During my four years, I was so blessed to have kind and supportive teachers, and all of them and future teachers are dedicated to help no matter what issues arise.
When it came to quizzes and tests, I took it upon myself to go for extra help when I needed it. The stress was higher during midterm time because of how many exams I had to do in a certain number of days. If there were any questions about certain topics about which I wasn’t too confident, I would visit the teacher after school or during learning center to get assistance about understanding those areas better. Going for help made me a better student, and would lead to higher grades on the exams. Often when I was in larger classes, a few of my teachers offered to have me take the exams in my liaison’s room, which I didn’t refuse because of the quiet environment I would be in. Other times, when my liaison had a class or meeting, I would take my exams in the library, another area that had minimal noise. If it was a smaller class, I usually would stay in the classroom and complete the test there. Taking tests and quizzes in a quiet environment is something that I’ve done through elementary and middle schools and is what kept my success going through high school. All students with an IEP or 504 have the right to take exams in another room if they so choose, and doing what makes them happy is what will make them succeed.
From day one of freshman year until graduation, I worked every day with the one person who made me a better student and person: my liaison. In his classroom, he helped me with my schoolwork whenever I needed it, whether it was solving a geometry problem or studying for a biology test. Along the way, he taught me the importance of taking notes, doing research, and, the skill that my parents and I agree that has helped me the most, self-advocacy. In one of his lessons for me and my classmates, my liaison taught us the importance of advocating for ourselves in any situation. The help could range from anything to homework help all the way to assistance on an essay or preparing for a test. He said that in college and beyond, having your parents reach on your behalf wouldn’t flow well with the expectations of professors and employers. Instead, advocating for ourselves shows who we talk to that they can help us with trying to reach a solution and agreement for solving the problem, as well as it shows folks that we care about succeeding and doing the best job we can. I’m so thankful for the support my liaison gave me through my four years in high school. He is a legend in making his students successful in high school and beyond, and I’m grateful that his help and lessons made do well in college, the workplace, and life.
Along with my sports-managing duties, I also was involved in various extracurricular activities during the four years. I was involved in my school’s student-run newspaper, which covered events and highlighted teachers and students throughout the school. In sophomore and junior years, I wrote several stories for the paper, where most of them covered the sports teams I managed. In senior year, I had an in-school journalism internship, where I wrote more stories and my faculty adviser gave me pieces to edit and post on the newspaper’s website. Being involved with the newspaper sharpened my skills for writing and editing stories, and it made me find my passion for what I want to do for a career. I worked well with my classmates and adviser to produce the highest quality of work possible, which would help establish trust and credibility with our audience. I’m thankful for everyone I worked with during my time with the newspaper, and we all helped each other succeed in what we wrote and produced.
Another organization I got involved with in high school was Best Buddies. I loved being a part of it because there were so many social opportunities we had and it was an excellent way for me to make friends. Among the events we did were apple picking, movie nights, Halloween parties, Red Sox and Celtics games, and holiday parties. My sophomore year, I was named the buddy director for our school’s program. During my time in that role, I would speak at meetings about past and upcoming events and provide any news about Best Buddies or anything that was going on in the school. I remember being in the library for those meetings and, since there were around 40 to 50 students there, I would stand on a chair so everyone could see me speak. I was part of Best Buddies for all four years of high school, and it was a terrific experience because of the fun events and the friends I made. The best way for autistic kids to make friends in high school is to join a club that offers exciting events, or is one that appeals to any interests or hobbies. Students in those clubs will have very similar or identical interests to anyone that joins, and it’s very likely that they’ll form friendships and get together outside of meetings.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to every person that I worked with in high school. Everyone from my classmates, paras, teachers, coaches, and administrators had my back through the four years and supported and encouraged me to do the best I could. It was that mentality that got me accepted to three colleges, and won several awards for English, geometry, algebra, and physical education, plus a special education book award. The teachers were very patient with the kids, which also helped me get through high school with minimal anxiety. Working games and going to events through Best Buddies helped me make a lot of friends, and allowed me to relax and have fun and not have to worry about schoolwork. Moreover, despite an active social life and working every weekend at Regal Cinemas my junior and senior years, I managed to finish my classes with nothing lower than A-minus except for three classes freshman year. I’m very proud of the accomplishments that I made in high school, ones that I couldn’t have done it without the help of the school community, plus my loving parents. They all made me find ways to the best I could into any project I did, and it made me do a better job the next time. I’ll close this piece with some words of wisdom my liaison told me freshman year that still applies today: “Your parents, teachers, and coaches will push you harder than you are willing to push yourself.”
Comments