First Few Days as a Regular Student

  

The day had come for me to go back to Warrensburg, this year as a regular student. I found my running shoes then started packing the car until there was practically no room left. I got some printer paper, notebooks, and ink cartridges at Office Depot. Then I realized my running shoes maybe at home. I called Cam and asked him to check in my room and he said they were there so we drove home and got them. Then my mom drove me to Warrensburg for half an hour, then I drove the rest of the way, getting thirty-five more minutes of driving. Finally we got there and unpacked and I filled out a form about my room and got my key. I got settled in and met Ro and Mckenzie, my neighbors from across the hall.

On the way to the Campus Kick-Off, I met one of the students in my hall, Richard. Then I got to the Multipurpose Building, remembering how only a few months ago I saw Cassie graduate there, leaving UCM for good. The Campus Kick-Off was pretty exciting though. I got a picture of some “sumo wrestlers” and I saw Kriti, Josh, Levi, the last two now THRIVE mentors, Tay, Andrea, and Solomon from my Public Speaking class, and Oscar, Ryan, and Autrey. I enjoyed some hot dogs, ice cream, and lemonade, got my picture taken with others on the floor, and went on an obstacle course.

On my way back I got to know my CA Maria. I learned she was born in the Philippines, grew up in Saudi Arabia, and was majoring in nursing and she got to know me and how my main passion was film. When I got back I tried to carve a bust of the Buddha using a piece of wood I recently found lying around and worked on some calligraphy and a trellis made from bottle cap rings and twist-ties. I also took some more pictures. Then I went to the mandatory meeting at 8:30 where Maria had us write something about us on a piece of paper, throw it in the air for it to fall and someone to pick it up, then find the person who wrote it. I had a little trouble finding my person due to trouble reading the handwriting but I soon figured out who he was. This exercise reminded me that with the right structure, autistic people can learn to socialize and the UCM and JCCC Autism Spectrum Support Groups will be able to help service providers learn such things so the right services can become more accessible to autistic people.

Maria then went over some rules: no alcohol for people under twenty-one, no one under twenty-one in a room where people are drinking alcohol, and no more than four people drinking alcohol at a time; no candles or incense burning; if we felt compelled to burn candles or incense for any reason, they could set us up with a room to do it; quiet hours were from 10PM-10AM from Sunday through Thursday and 12PM-10AM Friday and Saturday. We also met our residence hall director. After the meeting I got my mailbox code and a roommate agreement form. Connor had not yet shown up. I started filling out my part of the roommate agreement form and sure enough, Connor came to our room. I got introduced to him and learned he was changing his major from aviation to a double major in Business and Technology. I also found out he likes Family Guy, American Dad, King of the Hill, The Cleveland Show, and Bob’s Burgers.

After settling into life at UCM, I worked on my trellis made from bottle caps and carved an egg out of wood, which gave me some idea about how whittling works. I also introduced myself to people on the hall including a nearby roommate named Kyley. I started writing some of my screenwriting ideas down in my little notebook while I waited in line to get me computer registered which happened soon enough. In the Union, where I went to get a new student ID, I started noticing how strange it was that Cassie wasn’t here, and in the lobby, I remembered being here on the exact same day that I had met Emily. 

I later found out I did not need to get a new ID. As I was going back to my dorm, I bought two posters: one with several different beer bottles saying, “Life is full of difficult decisions,” and the other of the Berlin Wall with a message in graffiti saying, “Mother, should I trust the government?” I got back and thanked Dave for helping to pay my tuition. I also started on my ball-in-a-cage. Then I ran on the treadmill for about an hour as I had done last year. When I got back I took some more pictures and, to help me deal with stress, wrote in my gratitude journal.

The next day Algebra class had started. I waited outside until a short, dark-haired woman unlocked the door. As I sat down, I noticed she was extremely young, not much older than I. When we all sat down, she started talking to the class. She looked very nervous and I was reminded strongly of Cassie. We would be registering with an on-line program for this class for which we needed a code that came with a packet. I and a few other people who didn’t yet have these were given temporary codes.  Then I started working on the assignment. 

On my way back to the dorm I took some pictures of leaves. Later I went to my North American class and my impressions of the teacher and the class all started out on a positive note. I called Erin when I got back to tell her I was all moved in. Then Maria walked by our door to ask if we had finished the roommate agreement form. I told her I hadn’t and she asked that I get it done as soon as I could. Then Connor came to our room and we finished our roommate agreement form. As I went into the cafeteria, I decided I would try and stop eating so much sweets like I did last year to help me be more relaxed and focused. I also saw Hillary and Philip, as they were about to leave and we all said hi to each other and Amanda Rothe, now a second-year THRIVE student, as I was about to leave. When I got back to my dorm I found a Lonely Planet book on Northeast India at a really good price on Amazon. I also figured that even though Emily was not the girl I expected to date, that’s ok because like my granddad says, we’re all on a journey and it wouldn’t be a journey to know the end before you got there. After I ran on the treadmill, I talked to Tyler and Gabe on the phone, and then wrote in my gratitude journal.

The next day after my classes I went to the Student Success Center and got help on my math homework. Then I checked out a Lonely Planet book on Mongolia and one on India. I went to my World Masterpieces class, where, to my surprise, I saw Philip. On my way back to the dorm I found to new American Cinematographer issues for my collection that they give out on a rack in the Martin Building and I took several more pictures then got back and worked on a lampshade made from straws and my handbag for Emily.

Later I took out my trash and recycling bin then went down to the THRIVE hall where I saw Autrey, Alex, and Paige. Then I got most of my books in the mail as I saw Mary passing by. I went into town and got a summer 2013 issue of Sufi magazine, the latest issue of Circle magazine, and Time magazine’s Your Body: The Science of Keeping it Healthy. I also got a fifty dollar Amazon gift card and I took some more photos on my way back which helped me learn to slow down in life. When I got back Mckenzie asked me if I wanted to go get dinner with some of the others though I declined because I had already eaten but her invitation made me feel like the people on the hall really wanted to include me in things. 

When I went down to the Rec Center, so late from making last minute changes to my meditation journal and having two times where the vending machine wouldn’t give me the drink I paid for and getting a refund that I missed the first King of the Hill episode, I decided from then on I would sort the recycling after I worked out. I talked to Tyler and Gabe afterwards and Gabe invited me to the wedding of him and Alex (a girl from THRIVE who graduated the same year he did) on the twenty-first of June in Washington D.C. Then I called my mom to tell her I was adjusting well to life at UCM and she was thrilled. I also hung out with Kyley, Richard, Thad, and a few other people on my hall in Kyley’s room who I told about Emily and one of my screenplays which they thought sounded great. Afterwards I knocked on Mckenzie’s door and told her I was sorry I wasn’t able to make it to dinner and next time I’ll get everything I need to do done before then so I could make it and that I’d love to do those kinds of things with them and she said, “Alright.” I got back to my room and wrote in my gratitude journal.

The next morning, before I went to bed, I worked on my ball-in-a-cage. After I woke up and did my meditation I got the idea to make Phil a card thanking him for all the hours he gave me at Hen House. During my Algebra class, I got done a lot of the assignment that would be due the next week. I got back and I worked on my trellises. I also took some more pictures on the way to my North American Indian class. Later I realized I could have easily made it to dinner with the others if I hadn’t gone into town. I got all my supplies for my Drawing I class at the Union bookstore and as I was leaving I ran into Dr. Mayfield and told her about the poster board idea I had for the group and we agreed on maybe meeting her on Thursday to talk about the group.

               

I got back to my dorm and worked on my lampshade and ordered on Amazon: Sahara: A Natural History, The Little Book of Contemplative Photography, and a Lonely Planet book on Northeast India and one on Central Africa. I remembered how I planned to go to Equatorial Guinea as a bearing witness trip for the genocide of the Bubi people under their former government. I read most of the reading for my World Masterpieces class afterwards from The Epic of Gilgamesh and I realized I could continue reading it on the treadmill. I talked to Tyler when I got back, and then to my dad. Afterwards I played a Mario game with some of my hall mates, which I wasn’t very good at but at least had something to do with them. With my lack of skills in the game I learned to compensate to late sort of like what many autistic people go through in the real world.

The next day I saw Mary in the cafeteria and asked her how she was doing. She said ok, sounding a little stressed out. In my Drawing I class, our teacher taught us to hold our pencils lower in our hands and use them to measure the angles of what we’re drawing. After my Drawing class I worked some more on my ball-in-a-cage. Then I went to my World Masterpieces class where Philip told the class about his epilepsy and what he needed if he had a seizure and found a willing volunteer, certified in these situations to help. I realized this is the kind of self-advocacy autistic people need to learn sometime. As I was hearing about Gilgamesh in the class I thought he sounded sort of like a warrior mentioned in the Shambhala tradition of Buddhism like the Tibetan Epic of Gesar of Ling.

              

After class I decided to get myself rewards like from Jazzman’s Coffee Shop in the Union for sorting recycling, repurposing so much trash, and writing in my meditation journal to one day give to my future children to help them learn about meditation to help them survive the world and its flaws using it. Back in my room I worked on my handbag, my lampshade, and my trellises. I also remembered how my mom said the guy who founded Wrong Planet in The United States of Autism sounded impressive and I realized I would say a lot of the same things on neurodiversity that he did.  I worked on my travel plans in the Union where I saw Hillary and Philip and Philip congratulated me on my relationship with Emily. Later I went to Crazy Dog’s and took several pictures along the way and I got a new bottle cap for my collection. While I ran on the treadmill later that night, I was sort of able to tell how the King of the Hill episode I watched was written for its effect which I guess meant I was becoming more of a screenwriter. When I got back I wrote in my gratitude journal and worked on my ball-in-a-cage.

The next day I went to Walgreen’s, taking several pictures along the way, and I got some shredded mozzarella cheese and pepperoni for pizza bagels. When I got back I finished my Algebra assignment. When the day was nearly over, I had almost finished my ball-in-a-cage. On Sunday I finished it completely. I told my dad and the phone and showed him a picture. He and my granddad, who were eating together were really impressed. Later I worked on my handbag and later made a toilet paper roll diorama of Swayambhunath Stupa in Nepal. Then I had dinner with several people on the floor, which Maria invited us all to do, and Ryan saw me and joined us. I also wrote in my gratitude journal that night.

After class I decided to get myself rewards like from Jazzman’s Coffee Shop in the Union for sorting recycling, repurposing so much trash, and writing in my meditation journal to one day give to my future children to help them learn about meditation to help them survive the world and its flaws using it. Back in my room I worked on my handbag, my lampshade, and my trellises. I also remembered how my mom said the guy who founded Wrong Planet in The United States of Autism sounded impressive and I realized I would say a lot of the same things on neurodiversity that he did. I worked on my travel plans in the Union where I saw Hillary and Philip and Philip congratulated me on my relationship with Emily. Later I went to Crazy Dog’s and took several pictures along the way and I got a new bottle cap for my collection. While I ran on the treadmill later that night, I was sort of able to tell how the King of the Hill episode I watched was written for its effect which I guess meant I was becoming more of a screenwriter. When I got back I wrote in my gratitude journal and worked on my ball-in-a-cage.

The next day I went to Walgreen’s, taking several pictures along the way, and I got some shredded mozzarella cheese and pepperoni for pizza bagels. When I got back I finished my Algebra assignment. When the day was nearly over, I had almost finished my ball-in-a-cage. On Sunday I finished it completely. I told my dad and the phone and showed him a picture. He and my granddad, who were eating together were really impressed. Later I worked on my handbag and later made a toilet paper roll diorama of Swayambhunath Stupa in Nepal. Then I had dinner with several people on the floor, which Maria invited us all to do, and Ryan saw me and joined us. I also wrote in my gratitude journal that night.

Before my Drawing I class I read a little more of the assigned reading for The Epic of Gilgamesh. During the class we learned to draw still-lifes drawing just the corners and overlapping lines, using a variety of shades, lengths, and thickness of lines. During my World Masterpieces class, I got a four out of five on the quiz. I got back to my dorm and continued working on my lampshade. Then I finished an assignment then a quiz for my Algebra class. Then I texted Emily back and forth and told her about how I dedicated the last Ben’s Blog post to her. She said, “Aww that’s sweet.” I then told her I loved her.

I finished another Algebra assignment then texted Emily back and forth at dinner. After I finished eating I worked a little more on organizing my stamp collection. Then I talked more to Tyler. While I was running on the treadmill I realized how even though health insurance agencies might think providing for autism would cost them more, if so many people with autism are underemployed, they might not be able to buy health insurance from them in the first place. When I got back I worked on my handbag for Emily.

I woke up the next morning and Emily and I texted each other back and forth. She said, “Love U,” and I said, “I love you to.” Then she said, “Do you want to talk,” then “Call me.” I called her and found out she wouldn’t be able to come during Homecoming Week because her mom would be in New York during that time, but she would come another week. She said she missed me and I said I missed her to. Soon I had to hang up so I could get ready for class but before that I told her, “I love you,” and she said, “I love you to.”

After breakfast I got help with my Algebra homework at the Student Success Center. I took several pictures on my way to my math class and before it started I finished the reading for my North American Indian class. During class I got one hundred percent on the math quiz. Then I registered with a permanent code and got back my worksheet with a five out of five.  Today was the second day our teacher had not been there and I decided to e-mail her wishing her to get well. 

After class I ate lunch with Ryan, Marty, and David from THRIVE. Ryan invited me to a football game but I told him I wasn’t able to go because of my workload. I felt a little bad so before I left I told him I would try and get together with him another time and he thought that was great. Later I read the reading for my North American Indian class and got some brown construction paper at the Union to make toilet paper roll dioramas. During class that day I learned how the theories that the Mayan pyramids and other achievements of Native Americans were caused by Egyptians, Welshmen, Hebrews, Vikings, or Chinese (suggesting that they couldn’t do such things themselves) were shown not to be true since at these sites, the texts there didn’t not resemble any of their languages, the artifacts didn’t not resemble the artifacts of those people, and the physical remains were shown to be Native American. After class I texted Emily back and forth while I worked on my lampshade. 

As I was leaving the Union, I ran into Dr. Mayfield and we talked about the group a little bit and she told me she might be able to meet about it on Thursday. I got back and did some laundry while I texted Emily. I asked her if she was ok and she said, “I just miss you.” I said, “I know.  I miss you to.”  She said, “Aww,” then I said, “Well youre a great friend and a great girlfriend and I love you.”

Later I worked on some bags woven from bags and took several pictures.  Then I got a knock on my door. I answered it and it was Kyley and she said she was going to ask if Connor wanted to go eat with her and several others and invited me along to. I agreed to come along. Then I started seeing how Emily sounds so much like she does in person in her texts. I did some more photography after wards and on the treadmill, I found the perfect thing to put on the UCM Autism Spectrum Support Group magnets, cable holders, and pencil cups. When I finished running on the treadmill I joined Kyley, Mckinsey, Ro, and six other girls at Players restaurant where I had some coke and chicken wings. 

The next day in my Drawing I class I learned about balancing my hand on a piece of paper while drawing. During my World Masterpieces class, I learned about the Greek term arête, meaning excellence, which I believed I had read about one time in my book Family Guy and Philosophy. After class was over I wrote thank you notes, one to my grandmom for the fifty dollar check she had sent me, and one to Phil for all the hours he had given me at Hen House. I made a collage on the front of my grandmom’s card of one of the Ten Ox-Herding pictures from Zen Buddhism, with a man riding his ox to the market. Then I called the OAS Office and found out Dr. Mayfield was all booked up for Thursday.

Later I went down to the Union and got myself a white chocolate blast as a reward for all my environmental crafts. When I got back found out The Little Book of Contemplative Photography had arrived in the mail. Then after dinner I found I couldn’t find my key and decided to see if it fell on my way to the Union or back, but then I remembered I had to have had it before dinner because I would have needed it to get into my room, so I asked them had the front desk to help me get into my room and when they unlocked my door I found my key in there. Then Emily and I texted each other back and forth and I ended up doing a lot of work to fix my shelf for my toilet paper roll dioramas that I decided to save the day’s entry for my meditation journal for tomorrow. Emily said, “Love u,” and I said, “I love you to.” After I got back from the Rec Center, I decided to take a break from my usual routine, something my granddad taught me about, by writing in my gratitude journal in the lounge area instead of dorm. 

The next day I worked on some Algebra homework in class. Our teacher was still absent that day. Then I read the reading for my North American Indian class. After class I went to the Union and e-mailed my Algebra teacher, then got myself a supreme white chocolate blast from Jazzman’s Coffee Shop in the Union as a reward for writing in my meditation journal for the last two years to give my future children lessons on meditation to help them survive in the world. I saw Kriti there and I told her about everything going on with me and about Emily and me. I drank my coffee drink while working on my handbag. 

Emily and I texted each other later on. She asked me if I was alright and I said I was just a little overwhelmed. She said, “Aww its ok. " I told her about the handbag when she asked her what I was making for her and she said, “Aww thanks babe youre too sweet.” She also said, “I wish I could be hanging out with you right now. Later that night I talked to my mom and learned I would be going home for Labor Day with Alex Place from THRIVE and his mom.