Being An Adult

Autism and Becoming an Adult – Learning Independence

Autism and becoming an adult has been a big change for me. I have to say I really like being a kid, but now that I am 18, people expect me to make more adult decisions. College is teaching me a lot of independence, even though I go home after classes I still have the responsibilities to make sure I get to my classes on time once I finally found them on campus:) But the biggest change was being responsible for all the decisions I make. I have such great parents who let me try new things but also make sure I understand what went wrong if if doesn’t work out. I’m sure it will be easier as time goes on.

Learning Independence as an Adult

Becoming more independent has been exciting, but it has also taken some getting used to. College has taught me that I have to keep track of my own schedule, get where I need to be on time, and make decisions without always having someone there to remind me what to do.

One thing I am learning is that being an adult doesn’t mean you suddenly know how to do everything. Sometimes I make a good decision, and sometimes I realize afterward that I could have done something differently. I am lucky to have parents who let me try things on my own while still being there when I need advice.

Autism and becoming an adult can make some changes feel a little bigger because routines and knowing what to expect are important to me. The more I experience new situations, though, the more confident I become. I am learning that it is okay to ask for help and that making mistakes is part of becoming more independent.

I still don’t know if I am ready to say I love being an adult. Being a kid was pretty great! But I am proud of the things I am learning and the independence I am gaining. I know there will be more changes ahead, and I think they will get easier with time.

You can also read more about my journey and experiences on the Fetch The Swell About page.