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Last edited by Metamorphosis on 01 Nov 2010, 6:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I'm sure you have something that interests you that you can zone in on and develope further. I'm wondering whether this could be something to do with computers as you enjoy spending time on the computer? What are your interests? I think it's good that your parents won't give up on you. They see something of worth in you and they are probably right!

M,

Sounds like you're wanting too hard to fit in. I've found if you do it your own way at your own speed you go further, and people take you more seriously in the long run. Look at all those entrepreneurs like Bill Gates who hated school & Uni and bailed on it when they saw something better. Compare him (or Steve Jobs) to every carbon copy that comes out of University and goes into a non-descript job & non descript life and they end up breeding and spawning the same 'high achievers'. It sounds to me like you've got the brains to go somewhere better, you're just trapped at the moment.
Marks aren'y everything btw; I trashed most of my Uni education cos I was too unfocused & overstimulated to make anything of it, and they still accepted me to do a Masters simply on the basis that I'm smart. It just isn't as bad as you think it is.
I'm not going to patronise you and tell you 'it gets better', because it'll be hard until you find something you really want to do, something that floats your boat. Computers sounds promising...
Sorry if I sound like your folks but sometimes it takes a little longer and the light is at the end of the tunnel it's just that usually the tunnel's curved
Good luck...

Gruntre

People can take you seriously without understanding, and I suspect that might be part of your situation. I had nice grades until at least Middle School, but then I also barely made it through High School ... and the issue there turned out to be my need to learn things "hands on". Some of us just do not do well while things are only theoretical and/or presently exist only on pages of books.

As suggested, take a fresh look at things that have captured your attention in the past, and do not confuse that with frivolous thoughts like which game might seem to give you the biggest thrill. Rather ...

Have you been inclined toward mechanical things like Leggos or whatever, or have you easily spent more time with artsy stuff like visualizations (drawings) or music? Or, maybe your natural inclination is toward horticulture ...

Take a look, then look for older folks already doing useful and successful things similar to your own leaning and ask them for opportunities to join in and come along.

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Last edited by Metamorphosis on 01 Nov 2010, 6:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Last edited by Metamorphosis on 01 Nov 2010, 6:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Last edited by Metamorphosis on 01 Nov 2010, 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

High school sucks, even for the best and brightest. When you're AS it sucks worse. I did ok in high school but didn't do really well until I got into an online college (American Public University) and started doing classes online. Without having to worry about the constant stress of being around other people and fluorescent lighting (a trigger for me) and other such crap I could actually focus on school work and get good grades. I'm graduating with a 3.85 and as an honor graduate despite a lot of other crap I have to deal with in my life.

Yes, you need to find something to be passionate about but that doesn't always translate to a career. Nonetheless you still have to find something to be passionate about because life is just boring otherwise. As for the career, stop looking at all the downsides of each career field you consider. Working for a living sucks and finding a job that you love is a rarity. However, picking something you can tolerate is mandatory. If you have a talent at working with machines you'll do well in anything from car mechanics to engineering depending on where you want to go with it. I worked as a biomedical equipment technician and have an Associate's degree in it although my Bachelor's degree is in Sociology.

Find something you can do that you have talent in that doesn't drive you nuts. Any job has downsides, but you have to play to your strengths. If you can find one that matches your passions (once you find them) then great! However, unless you have a passion for hard sciences, electronics, or engineering, then you'll have a challenge finding a job that directly relates to a college major.

It sounds harsh, but its true. Although we give people lots of hope about loving their job, the truth is that most people don't like working for a living and would rather do something else. However, being able to tolerate your job (i.e. not taking a customer service job if you suck at reading people) is essential. If you have passions outside your job then life is actually happy and good and you have money...loving a job that makes no money sucks, and hating a job that makes tons of money sucks. You have to find the balance of what works for you.

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Last edited by Metamorphosis on 01 Nov 2010, 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

To be blunt, yes.

This is actually a misconception about Asperger's. The diagnosis is not based on intrinsic intelligence. It is almost a disservice to those with intelligence in the normal ranges to hold up people like Temple Grandin or Einstein (purported to be ASD by some) as archetypes of the disorder. These are EXCEPTIONAL people, not even close to typical. They should be recognized as role models, something that reveal possibility and potential. But to suggest that one with Asperger's is a failure because they have not reached Einsteinian heights is utter folly.

It's pretty scary trying to figure out at a young age what you want to do with your future. Do you like video games? Could you work in a shop that sells games? You would maybe be good at selling something that you love.

Just a word of hope here -

My son didn't figure out what he wanted to do until the very end of high school -- and from what I hear, THAT was early to figure out what you want to do with your life. I've known guys who are college professors now who didn't know what they wanted to do until they were almost done with COLLEGE.

The only thing I would hope for you to do is find some energy to look into various careers. Talk to your school counselor about getting some testing done to see what might interest you. You just never know what weird thing is going to pop up that will make you go "Yeah! That's what I want to do!" Our son liked maps. Kind of a weird thing. But liking maps turned into liking the idea of Urban Planning (and he also liked to play Sims games). Liking Urban Planning has turned into an interest in Architecture. This whole line of career choice began with the fact that after he learned how to drive, he kept track of every street in our area that he had been driving on. Who would guess that an activity like that would lead to a career in Architecture?

everyone here has different ideas, and sometimes mine can be narrow or limited. So, everyones post + never give up. If you fail you fail, but it is how you take that failure that can mean all the difference. You have to keep trying to succeed wherever it is you may try. When a car is coming at you what can you do. You can stand still or move. Standing still is the worst thing you can do, better to make a wrong decision and follow it then to not make any decision at all. It may not go recognized or awarded, but your struggle and you pushing through is one heck of an accomplishment. To any one with a disorder that simply tries to the best of their ability, its more of a struggle and accomplishment then others can understand. I am 25 and i still have no idea what i want to do, cant seem to attach to anything...except for one thing but i won't hold my breath for a while with this one.

also, are you physically capable, i mean for simple workouts?
Im finding exercise is actually one reason i still have any drive to do anything at all. Nothing works for everyone, but it is worth a try. Like anything tho, the benefits increase as time goes on. Your brain produces very powerful chemicals that can make a difference in one way or another.

these are only my opinions.

School years will probably be the toughest years of your life. I know they were mine. I think school is double hard when you're on the spectrum... especially if you have some learning difficulties too.

I was in some special classes for learning disabilities from 2nd grade through graduation, so trust me; I know what it's like. If your experience has been anything like mine was, then you've had your difficulties basically put in your face... constantly… your entire life. It's hard to have a positive self image and future outlook when that's all the experiences you've had to judge these things by.

No, not everyone with AS is super smart. Personally, I'm pretty challenged with a lot of tasks that most people find very easy. Reading out loud is a good example. If you heard me try to read out loud, you'd probably think I was in the mentally ret*d range. There's just something about how I process information that makes this very difficult for me (like some circuit that isn't complete).

On the other hand, I can do some things that most people cannot do. I'm currently working as level 3 EDI analyst (Electronic Data Interchange... computers exchanging data with other computers stuff). I’ve been in this field for the past 8 years. I basically lucked into it by following an interest in computers. Luckily I’m way, way, way better at analyzing complex systems than I am at memorizing information I could care less about (aka, my school experience).

I guess my point is that you just don’t know what you are capable of yet. The majority of your life experience is school. School performance does not equal what the rest of your life will be like.

Try not to give up on yourself.

If that is what you believe, then to quote Yoda, "That is why you fail..."

Simply from your ability to make a coherent post, I would say you are more intelligent that some people I have worked with. Looking at your bio I see your in Norway so English probably isn't even your primary language, so that makes your coherent posts even more impressive. Even so simply being stupid is not something that will stop you from being employed. I have a mentally handicapped niece who is diagnosed to be at the intelligence of a 10-12 year old with no prospects of that ever changing. Yet she is an adult living, single, living on her own, and employed. The larger burden to us with aspergers is not intelligence, but understating what is socially acceptable.

The expressions in your posts do show signs of a depression. I have struggled with depression all of my life, recognize your feelings, and do understand how serious they are. I would advise seeking help for depression if you are not getting it already.

It took me an extra year to finish high school also. I even failed shop class and metal shop. Yet now I'm an engineer who works on parts for aerospace and power generation. Go figure.

realize that grades are not a direct indication of intelligence. intelligence is the ability to learn, grades are the regurgitation of what youve already learned. if information is given to you in a format that you cant learn from, or in an environment you cant learn in, then your grades will not be representative of your intelligence.

im not sure how school works where you are, is there special education services that you can get help from? here in the US kids can get help in school when they are autistic, and they also can get transitional services when they are 16 for preparing for life after high school, whether thats college or other things.

btw, ill be 39 next month, and i still dont know what i want to do when i grow up. i wish someone had helped me to find something tolerable when i was still in college, but i never found anything like that. even if i didnt love my job, i would have hopefully been a lot more financially stable than i am now. i ended up not graduating college and just drifting between low paying jobs. i am now taking online courses for a new career path, so its never too late to figure it out. wish i had done it 20 years ago tho.

i think darkmysticdream had some great advice for you in regards to your future. find something you can tolerate, and do like most of the adult population, work during the week so you can play on the weekends.