Yay!

I find your opinion linking autism with school qualifications interesting because I suffered the opposite.

I got the paper qualifications at school while at the same time being socially inadequate and having severe communication difficulties.

Looking back at my school days.  Autism at that time was unknown.  And often I was in a no win situation.

Because of my unusual/strange/unorthodox/inadequate social skills and behaviour.  I was bullied and shunned, called a thicko etc.  And the teachers had low expectations of me, often placing me in the bottom class.

As I got better academically, I was still shunned and bullied and called a weirdo.  This time because I did too well.  When I came top in exams, I was moved to different classes.  The class I was leaving, rejected me even more and the new class never really accept me.  

School was hard.  It was all about survival.  Enough about my problems.

I hope your autism diagnosis leads to a better life.

Ho Robert. I was ahead at school til about year 8.then fell behind. I have processing difficulties (which weren’t picked up either) I was in top sets because they knew I was bright but learning just didnt work for me. The only things that I was any good at were maths, English language and music. I left with 1 O’level in English at a grade C. I have since done my maths GCSE and am also now a musician in a church worship team.  Although I have learning ‘difficulties’ I am intelligent and logical. I became a member of MENSA after I left school just to prove to myself I’m not thick!

I was a loner at school, but got bullied at college and ended up leaving the mechanic course I was doing after the first year. 

I was a loner at school, but got bullied at college and ended up leaving the mechanic course I was doing after the first year. 

I, too, was a loner.  I couldn't focus on any lessons.  It was a waste of time.  I left after 11 years with basically no greater skills or knowledge than I had when I started (I could already read and write at 5).  I did an English O level at 22, through a correspondence course - but struggled with that.  At 23, I took a Mensa test and scored high enough to get in, too. That actually left me in a quandary: how could I have high intelligence, yet be 'thick'?  I mean that.  I still struggled with learning.  At work, they thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn't use a calculator properly, couldn't remember basic instructions, etc.  Then, suddenly, things began to fall into place.  I think I became so hyper-aware of my backwardness that I made extra efforts.  Even now, though, I still find learning difficult.  I've actually wondered sometimes if I have a mild LD.  I could never focus for long enough to learn complicated stuff like higher maths, physics, etc.  I'm right-brain dominant, and am highly creative and imaginative.  But logical stuff defeats me.