Hey everybody!

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I hate introduction threads, I really don't know how and what to say. Yet, I'll give it another try.

I'm (almost) 19 years young and living in the Netherlands. So, already, I'm sorry if my use of English isn't as good as you would have wanted it to be. My diagnosis is PDD-NOS. Many of my friends have some autism spectrum diagnosis, so I'm pretty much used to all of them and the specific characteristics it brings with it. They're the easiest people to talk to, hang out with and the ones who understand me the best.

My life has been a rollercoaster. My diagnosis was set when I were 12, at that time I was really problematic at home and my parents didn't know how to handle it. Combined with some other factors, I ended up living in a psychiatric institution for some more than a year. After that I went to a school for people with an autistic spectrum diagnose, which was far below my level. I got my diploma, even though I spend most of my time not showing up and hanging with the wrong crowd, and decided I never wanted to go to school again. Sixteen years old, a finished education that was some lower than the American highschool one.

Between those days and now, I tried three different schools, both took half a year before I or the school realized I just wasn't up to it. I couldn't handle the 9 to 5 rhythm, the social pressure, the deadlines, being busy all day. These days, I live at a special living form, which is also for people within the autistic spectrum. I have my own apartment, there are caregivers (?) working here at daytime, to help us with the things we just can't do ourselfs and help us learn to do those things. I'm the youngest, the oldest being past 50.

I really want to go to college, but don't have the right education to get in. I'm scared of living my whole life on a social welfare check (or whatever it's called in America. Do those things exist there? I get money each month, because they decided I'm incapable of working, which is about 80% of the minimum wage. For my age, that means about 500 euro every month. I do have to pay rent here, the amount being dependent on my monthly income. (I think it's about half of it). I'm scared of getting a job that's way below my level, that is going to dumb me down.

Luckily, I do have great friends and a not-so-bad social life. I need those things. Even though I'm finding out that the older I'm getting, the harder it is to keep it up. Being around people is so tiring, especially now I'm used to living on my own.

Well, I'll probably hang around here for a while, see if I like it here and if you guys like me being here!

Welcome to WP!

You can do a 21+ exam to get in the desired education (HBO, Uni, etc.) atleast if you are 21 or older.

Groeten uit Nederland

I know! I turn 19 in two weeks, which means I still have two years to go. And two years drag on, especially if I have as much trouble with keeping a job or going to school as I have now. Sitting at home is no fun at all!

What about looking for the education you would like to follow?
Looking for education providers and forms which can provide in your needs? Homestudies perhaps?

Working on your problems might help too.

Ever seen the cost of homestudies? I can never afford that! Even though I've been thinking of picking up some subjects on VWO or HAVO level, like Dutch and English. It would probably make it easier to take a 21+ test if I did the subjects they are questioning. (Or maybe even get me in without the test).

I've been looking for volunteers work, to get in the rhythm again of waking up early and actually doing something. Haven't found anything yet, but I'm not giving up. The hardest part is waking up early, I hate mornings so much

Coffee

The other solution is not staying up till 1 or later

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Welkome to WrongPlanet.

The WP Kink

Welcome!