Life is challenging, regardless of what is going on. But as a person that is on the spectrum, I want to tell you that it is amplified. Even if it might not look like it on the outside. As hard as it is living with autism, it is doable to live life with it. I am writing this piece so people know what it is like to be a college student that is also an editor on this paper while dealing with a mental disorder.While I do want to say, not everything I specifically go through others do too. I just want to show people what I go through and maybe bring light to others going through the identical situations.
1. Cleanliness is a challenge (mentally and physically)
I can do things like take showers and wear clean clothes, that is no problem. But I will be honest, it is the small things like brushing my teeth and wearing deodorant that gives me trouble. There are already so many things I have to worry about and plan for so the simple things like brushing my teeth regularly or wearing deodorant is hard. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean I don’t do these things at all, it just is a little more hard doing it regularly.
2. Organization is a struggle
Organization is another thing that I struggle with. Whether it is keeping up with things like organizing or keeping track of my tasks. It is hard to do things because when given a task my brain freezes. I can do something right away if I’m really feeling it, but for a homework assignment that is as easy as simply writing a sentence for free points. It might take me a while to get it done, because in my brain even something that easy feels monumental. Or even writing this piece, I’m just getting it done the night before it’s due. I will try to get everything done when I have to, but sometimes I might dance really close to the deadline because of that reason.
3. You might feel like your failing all the time when you aren’t
If you had a tough past like me, it might make every small error you make in the present feel like a fatal error that will cost you your future when really that is not the case. Last semester I experienced that, the whole year it felt like I was treading along the line of being in academic trouble or just barely being able to stay in good standing when really I finished Fall 2025 with a 3.25 GPA. A part of that is because of my one semester at UW-River Falls when I left that campus because everything that could’ve gone wrong did. Another thing I have sort of struggled with is sometimes I feel like I am struggling being a sports editor, because it feels like I can only handle one to two stories at a time when some of my writers are taking three. While that feels lazy, I get reminded with what I do and how I do it that I am the example of why they are taking two stories.
4. I have to balance my needs with being with others
Being on my own as an autistic person has also brought me the challenge of learning how to deal with a short social battery by myself. If you have seen me at a sports game or a social event on or off campus. Or even my mates at the Advance-Titan. You might see that I leave the area a couple times, I’m not trying to purposely avoid anyone. I just need space for personal respite so I can go back to functioning properly and enjoy where and whatever I’m at. It might also be why I don’t go to a few events here and there, because I need time to simply just reset and recharge. When I don’t get the ability to be able to take a break, that is when I go into what is called shutdown. Where my whole body just starts feeling restless and I feel very anxious and need to get a lot of energy out.
5. Masking
Something I have struggled with is feeling like I am showing my true self. For those that know me, it might look like I am a person that literally only likes and watches sports. While it is true that I am a huge sports fan and it’s why I’m going here for journalism. You might not know that I am a rabid fan of video games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros and Five Nights At Freddys. I also love movies like Marvel super hero movies. I don’t express these things on a daily basis because of fear that I might get embarrassed. This is an example of me masking, which is where I do things that I don’t necessarily want to do to fit in. This happens because personally, it sometimes is hard to say no.
While these things make life challenging, I do feel like my autism can be a strength. Knowing that other people are going through identical struggles helps me be empathetic especially when I might not realize it. I also feel like my autism helps me think in a more unique way in certain situations. My main message with this is believe me, I know what it feels like when you feel like you’re alone. But trust me you are not alone, there are people out there who do care about you.
