From Josh: First Day at a Blue School

For anyone, going to school isn’t exactly a bag of lollipops, whether it’s Elementary School, Middle School, or High School. You have to get up at early hours, you have to go to a building with hundreds of other rowdy kids, you have to listen to lessons for hours on end all the way until the sound of the 3:00 bell…. and if you have autism, this could be even worse. But I’m here to assure you that it’s not all bad. School can be a lot of fun if you let it be!

Let me even give an example from my own life. When I started my first day at Aliso Niguel High School, I was terrified. I was coming off a move from Auburn, California and was starting a whole new life. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of out my wits! But I knew I had to trek on, no matter how much it hurt. For the most part, my first day ended up being somewhat enjoyable! The teachers were pretty cool, the cafeteria was vast and bigger than the one at my old high school, the kids were very energetic, and frankly, it was quite a lot of fun. Of course there were bullies, as would be with any school, and by having autism, I was somewhat of a target. Over time though, the bullying stopped and I even ended up becoming friends with a couple of the kids who used to pick on me. By the time I got my diploma and ended up going to Grad Night, I could look back on all the struggles I’d made for 12 years and realize that it was all worth it!

I can’t say that my experiences will be the same for any kid, average OR with autism, but I CAN try to give some a big pointer on how to make the school year a bit more bearable. Talk to your child about what happens each day at school and ask them what they think. If they have a problem with homework or bullies, DON’T dismiss it. Address it head on and see what you as a parent can do to help remedy it. By doing so, your child will realize you truly do care about how their schooling is going and may even feel braver in the face of hardships.

I’m hoping some of my words are a big help to parents, teachers, and kids alike. School’s a very important part of life and I want all of you to have an enjoyable experience. It can lead to intelligence, new skills, even making lifelong friends! That way, on the last day of the senior year, when you’re going up to get your diploma… you can say proudly…

“I’d do it all over again if I could.”