But I suppose I can give it a go.
My name is David, I'm 16 and I live in Ireland. BACKSTORY TIME- When I was young I was a generally happy child, I had friends, I had fun, but around the time I turned 10 things started to change a bit - my friends suddenly decided that they didn't like how I was, obsessive about certain subjects, a lack of desire to join in some things like say football matches or what have you, and then suddenly, it was like they were all turning against me, leaving me out of groups, general insults lobbed at me whenever the teacher was away. Looking back it may seem like harmless child bickering, a regular part of life, but I couldn't take it, I really did not like having to deal with all the bullying and losing all my friends just seemingly for being myself. It didn't help that my teacher at the time hated my guts and used any opportunity to tell me about how EVERYTHING I EVER DO IS WRONG. It got to the point where I was honestly thinking of killing myself. It wasn't a good time. After I finished National School, I started Secondary School at 13, and I never fully integrated with the new way of life that's introduced when you start the "big boy" school. Suddenly it was all about swearing at every opportunity, taking up smoking and drinking, going to discos and trying to score as much as possible. I couldn't comprehend it, I couldn't understand it. After thinking that I could make new friends when starting the new school, I only ended up getting more abuse. It was this year that I was diagnosed with Aspergers. But I then got the impression that then the school was treating me like a second rate student. I would get angry very easily and there were a few occasions where I angrily stomped off. The last straw, though, I thought, was when they brought in a special needs assistant. I realise that they're important, but I really did not think that they suited me. She treated me like a moron who couldn't comprehend simple 2 + 2. It only got me down more and more and I would spend all my time at home on the computer, looking around at the internet, and it became an unhealthy obsession, spending every free moment because there seemed to be people at least who seemed to have the same interests as me on message boards, but it lead me to being sad again that things just weren't working out in my own life. But, I started taking a stand, I told the school I didn't want a special needs assistant, made them take her off (she's currently working with other people who need her a lot more) and started, well, just grew up a bit, I think. I paid attention in class, started talking to people I could at least a half-decent conversation with, did my junior cert and passed, and moved onto Transition Year for the past year where things have been mainly positive, making actual friends, doing cool stuff, although it hasn't all been good (I had a slight dip back into depression at the start of this year which was. not. fun.) I feel good about how much progress I've actually made in the last 5 years. Despite this though, I still feel slightly awkward about some things. I have friends, but I don't have anyone I can classify as a "really good friend". I still don't get many of the things people in my classes are into (drinking is one thing, the obsession with "going out" is another). and I still seem to break a social taboo once in a while. and I still tend to get angry with people at times. but life goes on, things are gonna change, I guess...
Mainly I am interested in music and books, television and films. I like photography and history, and I like to read about science but not necessarily learn about it from school. When I was younger I used to be obsessed with writing and would write my own stories constantly, but getting constant haggle from my parents and relatives "oooooh hows your writing?" I lost all the fun in it and I've stopped now. After taking a media class in school I've become interested in filming and I'm considering taking film studies after I leave school. I'm interested in travel and really want to live somewhere else when I'm older. Other cultures fascinate me and I'm bored of this place in general. I play the drums and have been playing for three years. It's become a very big interest of mine but I've yet to join or start a band, even though I do really want to.
Even though I didn't react kindly to my school giving me a special needs assistant, I am happy that I know about Aspergers because it at least gives me an explanation about how I am what I am and I thought joining this site would be a good way of discussing it with people as there doesn't seem to be that good of an opportunity in outside life.
err I think that's enough for an introduction, I didn't realise I typed that much. HI EVERYONE.