As a kid I loved animals, and kids and being able to help at school but if something bothered me I would throw a tantrum. At teacher/parent interviews when i was in grade 3, the teacher informed my mum she wanted to slap me.
I misbehaved a lot in primary school, had a lot of fights with people and even got expelled from 2 different vacation cares.
But also in primary school, in grade 5 or 6, I looked after a little boy who had autism. He was in prep. I was his "buddy" and would take him to chapel every tuesday and I remember him always wearing big ear muff things so he couldnt hear the music; he was very sweet and I started to sit with him at lunch too, the teachers would call me out of class if they needed help with him.
I moved states when I finished grade 7 and so I started high school in grade 8 at a new school where everyone already had friends; I didn't fit in. I hated my new school, I got in trouble a lot.
I wanted to drop out but I got my HSC in 2012, and now im a nanny, but ive applied to be a councillor at a special needs summer camp in america next year; I want to work with children who have autism so they know they can finish school, have great friends & relationships just like I did. I want to be a mentor and a friend and just someone to listen. Besides the tantrums and fights, i had a great childhood, and i made school fun with the help of my friends and I loved life. I am still shy and I have a lot of communication problems, I can't talk in big groups where everyone is looking at me, I struggle to make eye contact, and I have anxiety which makes me nervous to go anywhere by myself or to talk to strangers and meet new people but I am working through them every day as best as I can.
-, Australia