College was a mistake

You're WAY ahead of me in most respects! There's always a workaround....we just need to land it for ourselves.  Keep the faith sister!  Don't panic....and DEFO don't loose faith in yourself.

[Disambiguation = Yep = that's a "cut-and-paste" from me......to you.  TRUST YOURSELF.....even if you don't trust yourself....perhaps you may be able to trust (having viewed "me" for long enough here)......to know that I don't just  chuck out platitudes to everyone/anyone!  You're a special human - belief it - feel it - live it.

I sense that some of your "teachers" are also becoming aware of your "specialness" = why they are cutting you some slack!  Don't "takethepiss" = English phase meaning "don'ttake advantageoftheir acknowledgementofyour undoubted specialness".....and just focus on your "coping mechanisms" to make college life "doable."

Your chum

Num.

Amen!

That’s positive that your teachers are understanding. I can relate to sometimes not being able to write at all and then sometimes I can write relatively easily- I used to think I just can’t write as I get these horrible blocks but I think it is often when I just haven’t fully processed the information yet and don’t know exactly what I want to say. Sometimes these things need to stew in my head for a while. Or when exhausted then nothing works. 

I might struggle with switching tasks - I’m not sure. Mostly with things that I don’t find interesting, but sometimes I’ll want to do something but still can’t get into it. Like today there was a new Frozen short and I was discussing it online but only gave a couple short sentences, but hours later I randomly was able to write out paragraphs. I don’t know if it’s “inertia” or delayed processing or somthing else entirely 

I don’t have an official accommodation for extra time, but my teachers have been extra nice and given me extra time even when it’s against their own late policy. In some ways it’s nice but in other ways it’s makes it harder to do work because I just have more to do and it’s hard to think of what to start with. 

Hi, I am sorry it’s so hard right now! You are clearly working very hard. It would be good if you could get some adjustments but it is very hard if you don’t know what to ask for. I’ve been in a similar situation where I know I struggle and need help and it could be related to being autistic but I can’t really pinpoint what the issue is. Could it be that part of the challenge is switching between tasks/topics? I’m just throwing that out there as it is something I realised is hard for me but it took me a while to figure out. It takes me a while to get into a topic/task and when I am I can go into deep focus, but this takes time . To switch to something else also takes time (sometimes over a day)- depending on how class times and assignment due dates are arranged, it can hamper me severely in my ability to get anything done… took me a while to figure out as at my previous university there was a lot of independent study and flexibility so I flourished… not sure if that may be something that affects you too?

I also think maybe you could make a case for getting extra time for assignments- it sounds like that could help and I think it is more than justified! 

I hope you can give yourself a bit of time to relax too- It is so easy to just go into constant working mode when you feel like there is just too much going on but in the long term it is not sustainable. 

I found that my Degree became a burden, rather than a qualification.

Whenever I sought to retrain, I was 'Overqualified'. Therefore denied access.

Think of all those who dropped out of College, and now roll in it. Messers Gates, Zuckerberg and Musk. As Steven Wright said, "The Early Bird gets the worm, but the Second Mouse gets the cheese.'

We should talk....I think.  You're WAY ahead of me in most respects! There's always a workaround....we just need to land it for ourselves.  Keep the faith sister!  Don't panic....and DEFO don't loose faith in yourself.  You didn't think you could get this far a year ago!!!  You're doing great.  13% off where you need to be sounds MUCH better than 10%-v-70%. PMA [disambiguation = Positive Mental Attitude.]

Yours

Number.

I think you need to try and work out what it is your finding so difficult then. You got into college for a reason so I'm sure you have the capability. You just need to know what your current barriers are. Try to think through what happens when you're trying to work. At what point is it going wrong? What is happening at that moment? This may help you to break down what is actually happening and then people may be able to recommend more specific strategies.

The problem is waiting to be in the zone means you don't start. If you start, with just the idea to do a little bit so it doesn't seem so hard or insurmountable, just 30 mins, you'll often find you do more. At the end leave a couple of sentences for what to do next so when you come back you can get into it without thinking too much.

Even if you do a little bit, you can then reward yourself and not feel guilty.

I don't guarantee this will work, but it is worth trying. I can't really do it, but it is the way to make things less stressful.

The only accommodations they approved were lecture recording and they said I could use the private testing room, plus a form that a doctor could fill out saying I can be absent more often without penalty (but I don’t think my doctor would sign it). They can’t give that many accommodations so they’d probably just direct me to some tutors or something. There’s is a program for more disabled students who get more help but I doubt I’d qualify

I don't know a whole lot about American college but do they have a disability service of some description? Perhaps they could help you figure out what it is that you're struggling with and what accomodations would help. Them giving you accomodations already is great but if they're not the right ones it's not going to help.

I get your logic on this but if you're just trying to work constantly you will not be as productive and will just burn out. No brain is designed to work 24/7 let alone a neurodivergent one. You need to split it with down time and enjoyment too to give your brain it's best chance when you are working.

I do a lot better doing it all at once vs a little at a time, but that requires me being “in the zone” so I guess I could try the other way. It just might end up a bit incoherent, better than turning in nothing

Expecto_Patronum said:

How come you have to pay so much money if you don't pass?

It’s because the government is paying for it right now, so if I don’t pass then they take back their money but the school still needs to be payed so I have to instead.

Ive had some teachers ask if I need help with anything but I can’t really figure out what my problem is to be able to say what’s wrong. And I feel bad since they already give me accommodations (both official and not)

Expecto_Patronum said:

Set aside time for your work but split it up with enjoyable activities.

That’s precisely why I’m not doing fun - to split it even with how much work I’m doing ha

I know what you mean.

You need to structure your time and stick to it. Easy to say and impossible to do, I know, but the only real way.

You stay in all weekend to do work, but don't do any, then feel bad, then feel even worse if you do go out, etc. So you don't get anything done and don't enjoy yourself either, you don't relax and just get more stressed, which makes it even harder to do any work. Till the last second then the pressure forces you to do something, but it's not always very good.

So you have to change you mindset. Allow yourself some fun and don't feel guilty. But then have some discipline to do some work. Try to do a little and often, rather than big chunks. If you're monotropic and on a roll, then just go with it, but remember to sleep.

It's all in the mind. Try not to panic. Just break it into bite size pieces and start biting.

How come you have to pay so much money if you don't pass?

I strongly believe you need to speak to someone whether it be a teacher or someone in charge of student support and talk to them about what you're struggling with. They may be able to provide help with some of the things you are finding difficult.

Don't cut everything fun out of your life. That won't be productive long term. Set aside time for your work but split it up with enjoyable activities.