being autistic in college

[@mrs.specksynder970]

I am autistic and about to go into college. The information in here really makes me feel better, thank you

[@ZombieFighter95]

4:44 That's so interesting, because for me with ADHD it's the exact opposite. The fact that uni has a non-rigid structure that I am in control of, and have to control myself, is exactly what made it so difficult.

[@lynniewood]

I'm an autistic young adult, i have ocd/anxiety, and I'm a transmasc who loves makeup and cute/alt fashion. I'm so glad i found you, i really want to follow more autistic trans people. Time to binge all your stuff now haha

[@Hellakiddie]

Saaame

[@HolisticAutistic]

College was difficult for me because I was autistic and because I didn't know I was autistic at the time; mostly due to being overwhelmed with schoolwork and difficulties being social.

[@spaceheroes2]

In regards to parties in college it's wayyyy better to "party" by hanging out with a group of 5-10 people that you know, listening to music, (drinking or smoking if you feel comfortable,) and playing games than go to a frat party. This way there's no over-stimulation of noisy crowds or uncomfortableness talking to and being around strangers. Also, you won't have to worry about your friends getting in trouble, getting to drunk, etc because you'll all be together so you can take care of each other.

[@Hi-vf9wx]

Hanging out with friends is wayyyy better than frat parties omggg

[@CeruleanPandas]

i'm paying attention to the things you're saying, BUT ALSO--your hair is so good 😭

[@alexscanlon174]

Are your earings made out of your T bottles.

[@fin6266]

Mhm, I think he talks about it in the video were he goes through all his accessories and reorganizes them

[@anomaly.amalie]

those earrings inspired me to do the same thing when/if I start T. It's such a cool idea!

[@BeccaRaptor94]

Yes

[@lyrablack8621]

first thing i saw. iconic

[@Ryanrobida7469]

If your school is safe enough and you park in a parking deck, your car is an excellent place to go if you don’t feel comfortable in a library or your dorm. I just graduated and I spent so much time in my car. I needed to be alone a lot and I couldn’t always find a good space that wasn’t my car. Nobody even notices anything that’s happening in your car.

[@CyclingUrchin]

Oh that's a really good idea! Thank you for commenting that

[@aaronseth9840]

I’ve never clicked a video so fast!

[@nnoctivagantt]

I'm autistic too, I'm not in college because I wouldn't be able to handle it with my adhd but my experiences are very very similar to yours in other situations. It's nice knowing that another person experiences the world in a similar way. I haven't had the chance to interact with many other autistic people in my life so it can feel pretty alienating.

[@space.404]

I'm in the same situation! I feel like I wouldn't be able to handle both college and my own mental health at the same, I highly recommend, if you have the opportunity, to take a year/a semester to focus on your own health.

[@lupineallen5039]

Im Autistic and Ive dropped out of 3 schools. 2 at once! First were my highschool plus a college program I for some reason thought I could do at the same time when I couldnt drive, it was 110° out and I had to bring a suitcase with me between busses and I ALREADY hated normal highschool. And then community college because I forgot I STILL hated school... I havent watched the video yet but I hope it helps, thank you!!!

[@unknownuser4664]

Comments like these are the reason why I am having nihilistic thoughts because as an autistic person what's the god damn point if I can't contribute anything to life or have a successful career that I would enjoy if my disability didn't get in the way and I bet 100% that you don't know how to drive a car and your unemployed just like me and you sound like the type of autistic person who gets easily agitated and easily gives up without even putting effort into something your trying to make a living out of sometimes I truly hate being Autistic and I do want a cure

[@lupineallen5039]

OMG are those Testosterone bottle earrings?! When I start I may or may not uhm... take that idea if thats okay!

[@chloeseeger3279]

BRO IM HERE FROM THE STIM COLLECTION VIDEO AND MY JAW JUST LEGIT DROPPED LIKE WOOOOOOOAAAAHHHHHH

[@bambibear1486]

ME TOOOO

[@lucidthomas4402]

Just a note on schedule flexibility: this is would be a lot harder at smaller colleges. Where I went, there were some classes that were only offered at one time so if it was required well...guess you're getting up at 8am lol. So if that's really important to you, definitely look at larger institutions.

[@ClosetDemon]

i just want to say thank you. you have helped me a lot in finding out who i am. you helped me realize that maybe im not a binary as i think i am. you also made me first research about autism which lead me down a path to realizing i have ADHD. i might have figured it out on my own but it probably would have been a lot different if i hadn't watched your videos.

[@ace.of.space.]

appreciate this video a lot !! i'm not autistic (my brain has the classic depression + anxiety combo) but it sounds like there's a lot of overlap in our experiences, especially in terms of crowds, choosing one's own schedule (i don't like summer too wow!), and being "straightedge" and not liking the concept of what i understand are college parties (in my case because of a lack of interest / specific anxiety triggers / potential medication interactions), but i've had great social experiences with queer orgs and whatnot. the more i learn about autism the more i'm finding i have a few particular traits often common in autistic folks and it's incredibly helpful understanding how autistic folks manage life with those particular ways of existing has taught me a lot about how to better manage myself

[@renbaker5124]

I'm an autistic person in highschool. I already have small accomodations for my anxiety and depressed, but I haven't been formally diagnosed with autism (and I probably also have ADHD). Most people don't believe I'm autistic because I seem "too normal" or "too smart." It's frustrating.

[@Nerodotnet]

Currently going thru smth similar and it’s definitely frustrating, good luck with everything

[@roisinrowan1341]

i'm so happy i've found a fellow trans autistic with so many of the same views as me. makes me feel a little less alone

[@renbaker5124]

Same!

[@razvandobos9759]

I have Asperger Syndrome. I was diagnosed with it back in 2005 when I was in kindergarten. My special interests are cars, skyscrapers, space, animals, geography and aircraft. I’m also into punk and Goth culture like you.

[@mae4250]

His voice is just so relaxing 🖤

[@poppy-spades]

AHHHH thank you so much!! I'm a senior highschool student, and not only am I autistic but my ADHD has made school BIG hell for me. I always want as much input as I can on college for this very reason and I'm SO glad it's coming from an autistic person too!!! Thank youuuu 💛

[@alecy1999]

I am neurotypical but my partner isn't and we are both non-binary. This video was really helpful for me to further understand how they process their surroundings at university. Thankyou :)

[@achilleus9918]

As a British probably autistic person, UK university was so much better than school. I mean, even my school wasn’t as big as your average American school as far as I can tell, but even so at uni I felt so much more comfortable for the most part. Pros: - surrounded by people who have at least one big interest in common with me (at UK unis you only study one subject - I did English literature - and my UK let us do a minor subject in first year - I did Ancient Greek) so I felt less like a weirdo for that nerdy interest - I don’t know if this is the case for everyone but I had waaay fewer lectures and seminars per day than your average UK school timetable. Even my friends doing other subjects who had way more classes had some days that were busier and some that were less busy. You don’t know what times your lectures or seminars will be when you pick modules, but you know how often they meet if I’m remembering right. Tbh I wish I’d had more lectures but even so, the pro is that between lectures you can go anywhere - the little park next to the English department, the quietest parts of the library, whatever. In school where you go is so regulated and I hated that, but at uni they literally don’t care so long as you’re at your seminars and lectures. - You only live in university accommodation for first year, and in second and third you rent privately with other students. That can work out really well for people if they find flatmates they’re comfortable with. - making friends was easier than I expected because I joined a couple of societies. The choir was where I made most of my friends. Cons: - I HATED my uni accommodation in first year. Loud, dirty, falling apart, just bad sensory everything and I was so self conscious all the time because the walls were thin. It was awful. - if sorting out second and third year accommodation doesn’t go well, it’s not much better than first year uni accommodation. - schedules can be very varied (I often had several classes on one day and nothing at all the next) which wasn’t TOO bad for me but could definitely bother others That’s just where I think it might differ from US college.

[@crimsonking2908]

The voice is getting hotter every day !!

[@finch4309]

the whole “oh you don’t need to get up at 6:30” “yes i do” thing is SO RELATABLE. like i consistently HAVE to wake up at least two hours before i have to leave to go to school/ log on to go to school. otherwise it just is super rushed and i don’t get fully ready and probably skip washing my face which is bad bc i’m very acne prone

[@wilgross2086]

Ohhh my god thank you so much for this video. I’m currently a college freshman (psychology major and maybe double majoring with English) going into my second semester after winter break, and everything you said hit the nail on the head about how my experience has been so far. As a queer transmasc person who is autistic without formal diagnosis, I just felt so seen and it really helped me because my first semester was rather rough, especially toward the end. When you touched on being a psychology major, I was so happy that I wasn’t the only one who felt so tokenized and singled out when in group discussions. I could tell that I was likely the only neurodivergent student in my intro psych class, and I was definitely the only trans person. When we talked about issues concerning neurodivergency or being trans, I felt like everyone looked to me to talk about my side of things, and it made me feel so scared to speak up, especially when information was incorrect or missing. I don’t wanna make this a whole novel, BUT thank you again for this video, I feel a lot more prepared for my next semester, and I hope you’re doing well :’)

[@Shagthedemon]

Autistic nb at a Canadian university here! The pandemic and online classes have probably been the best thing for my social life. I have really bad sensory issues which can make even a normal classroom environment difficult, and I learned a lot of students are nervous about talking to me because I have a service dog. I feel much more comfortable when I'm in my controlled environment and I don't even need to show my face or speak half the time. I can stim, I can have my tools and dog with me, and I can get up and leave if I find I'm uncomfortable. Plus, I'm much more outgoing online, so I've made lots of friends and gotten involved in some virtual gaming groups! This is definitely a hard semester, ESPECIALLY for first-year students, but there is definitely a silver lining

[@Sonicfan-cc1te]

Is your name Mack? And is your service dog named Veda?

[@praalgraf]

im autistic and starting uni this september so this def came at the right time! edit: also... your bus came at whAt time america is a hellscape

[@_francis4596]

dude mine was at 4:45am lol

[@praalgraf]

@@_francis4596 i am so sorry for your loss

[@augustnielsen6923]

This isn't about college (where I isolated myself the entire first year) but me and my brother are both neurodivergent and in elementary school they had an impromptu dance party thing with flashing lights and loud music and me and my brother both had sensory overload so we asked to leave. We didn't know that we both left until we wound up in the principal's office together lol.

[@mayastrett3611]

I'm autistic, queer and starting university, studying psychology, in September and this is exactly what I've been looking for I don't know any other neurodivergent people going to or in university so this is so helpful thank you

[@alexvandervelden5558]

Hi Ashton, thanks for making this video. I'm about to start university. I'm from the Netherlands, so our situations are not really the same. But yeah, I'm both trans and autistic aswell and just hearing your experience is good to know. Also am about to study medical sciences and engineering. Lots of love from Alex

[@crimsonking2908]

Love your earings my dude !! I want to go to college for Animation.

[@alexiswilson8093]

I have been questioning whether I'm autistic or not for about a year and a half now. I have realized that I have shutdowns that are caused by sudden loud noises like yelling, things falling suddenly, and being anxious when I'm emotionally overloaded to the point that I go mostly non verbal. I've also realized that I have special interests that I don't really talk about. I apparently also stim to music with my hands, I think I've heard it be called orchestra hands. I also stim by listening to the same song for several days at a time. Apparently, playing Minecraft the exact same way every single time I play it is a routine. I do T-Rex arms too. When I'm shutting down, I have a harder time maintaining eye contact, identifying my emotions, and keeping my heart rate down. I have a very diverse palette when it comes to food, but I won't eat anything that is spicy unless it's mild. The smell of something spicy makes my nose burn. Sometimes I say random words for no reason at all. When I was younger, my mother would remind me to stop talking like a robot. I was thought of as weird by other kids. I used to, and still do, watch documentaries for fun when I was little. I even stim by rocking back and forth, or side to side. I also have a cousin who is autistic that I've been told I got along well with when I was a baby. I have info dumped to complete strangers who had autistic family members. They would tell my mother that I remind them of their autistic relative. I take jokes and sarcasm literally sometimes. I've been self diagnosing as autistic for sometime, but I'm worried that if I try to get a formal diagnosis that I'll be misdiagnosed. I'm also a non dysphoric lesbian demigirl, so that's another reason I might be denied. I'm just not sure if I can really call myself autistic. I looked at a lot of memes and videos by autistic people, and I relate to some of them, considering most of them are white cis women. I'm mostly looking for a sense of community to help learn more about myself. You don't have to respond if you don't want to. Edited: It turns out the standing and rocking on the sides of your feet are an autistic trait as well. I've taken self assessment tests online and scored fairly high on them. When it comes to change, it seems like I'm fine with change in general, but sudden unexplained changes make kind of anxious. My desire for routine is the most noticeable when I play Minecraft. My play style is very specific and is meant to be played alone. It can be boring if you play it with someone else. I'm fine deviating from my routine in game if it's me changing the order of how I gather resources. At this point, I know I'm autistic and it's gotten easier accepting that. It feels good. I'm on the fence about seeking a formal diagnosis, mostly due to impostor syndrome, but I think my support needs are low enough that I can manage my symptoms on my own; although it would be nice to know for sure.

[@jessereaghen5099]

Thank you for this video it's very important especially for me an autistic person in college, so I don't feel alone in the hellscape that is college

[@jessereaghen5099]

Wait I just realized those earrings they're injection vials yeah? ugh they're great.

[@xavierthething3315]

I'm autistic and transgender (ftm) I'm still in highschool but that video will definitely help me in the long run. I'm always so scared of me going to college in the future because I don't know how it'll be or how I'll feel. This video helped me so so much with my anxiety. Thank you so much!

[@foxdes0]

I totally get the environment of the party's vibes that come off. In high school, I only enjoyed myself at theatre after parties because it was with a bunch of people I just spent the last three months in tights quarters with and we would jam out to show tunes. And food is a plus, also if there was a pet at the person's house yes please. But prom was a shit time. I got to be artistic with my attire (trans nonbinary here) but once I arrived at the venture, I just sat and watched everyone dance. I don't get it. Is dancing the only thing people actually want to do at parties? That's all they did. Luckily I had two other friends that sat with me and we just chatted.

[@chargremlin1072]

I have ADHD and (maybe) autism (at least my therapist thinks so with the latter) and I'm kind of worried abt college as a neurodivergent person. I don't deal well with unknowns and sitting still for hours at a time and people in general. but it's something I'm working on, you know, if it's something you *can* "work on." I agree with you on the relationships part, though! it feels deeper, in a sense, especially when u are friends with other neurodivergent people. I also have a very hard time communicating boundaries due to one part trauma and one part not wanting to inconvenience others (which might be a trauma response anyway lmao) but my friends are a safe place for me to talk about consent and every topic under the sun and it definitely did not used to be that way. I also do the thing of "this is at 8 so I need to wake up at 6:30 for it." like. exactly. I need an hour and a half at least in the mornings to get myself in the mindset of being a functioning human being. I've never heard someone else talk about that before! executive dysfunction sucks

[@strangecreaturl]

im an autistic college student and im rlly glad u made this video :) reassures me w/ how ive been feeling lately

[@virtueisdead6673]

I actually got diagnosed due to university. I come from a small town and uni is in one of the biggest cities in my country and I had to take the train everyday. I started having ""panic attacks"" daily (mixed to what we discovered are also meltdowns). I think one of the most important thing to realize is that you are not less for using the help the uni offers. At least here, with a diasgnosis, you can get accomodations, like a fixed seat or a calm side room to cool down. YOU ARE NOT LESS SMART, WONDERFUL AND KIND IF YOU GET ACCOMODATIONS, you are not cheating, you need them to function like all others do 💕💕💕

[@nicokelly6453]

You have perfect timing ahkfah I'm about to go to college and was just working on it today thank youuu. Also your situation in regards to autistic diagnosis reminds me very much of mine regards to ADHD diagnosis. My therapist and psychiatrists were also people who told me I had ADHD before I ever had the resources to get an official evaluation, so even though I've now been evaluated (haven't gotten the results back yet), I began considering myself ADHD before that because...well, two medical professionals. Goes to show that (among other reasons) diagnosis aren't the end-all be-all of being autistic or ADHD.

[@rissthebee]

Diagnosis IS the end all be all of autism/ neurodivergence/ and ADHD!! Self diagnosis is appropriating those who have been diagnosed. Fr bro self diagnosis is dangerous and offensive to the community. We have to fight for rights and accommodations in academics, for an equal chance at an education. I still do every day.

[@nicokelly6453]

@@rissthebee no, it's not. I've now got a diagnosis for severe ADHD, and the only thing that changed is that I have an official file for it now. I wasn't "not ADHD" before I got the diagnosis. You don't suddenly "become" ADHD when you get a diagnosis--you were ADHD before that. The same is true with ASD. I still had the struggles and issues of an ADHD person before my diagnosis, it just wasn't on paper. And again, I literally had TWO medical & psych professionals tell me I had ADHD before I did the test and got the results. Poor and marginalized people are less likely to get a diagnosis, because of lack of access and medical bias. Women are less likely to be diagnosed with autism, even though professionals have begun to realize lots of women are autistic and just haven't been diagnosed because of stigma and because all previous research on autism was based on men. What damage does it exactly do to me as a diagnosed ADHD person if someone without a diagnosis has researched ADHD and finds they fit all the symptoms? Does it harm me if they get a book on ADHD coping skills? Does it harm me if they ask their therapist about ADHD? For meds, they would already require a diagnosis, so it's not like they're going to do anything permanently harmful. So why block them from finding help for something they're experiencing just because they don't have a file saying they "officially" have ADHD? If they have trouble reading because of an undiagnosed ADHD trait, why should they not get accommodations? It doesn't take anything away from me as a diagnosed person. Also, neurodivergency isn't a diagnosis. It's a social theory and an umbrella term. And a lot of "self diagnosed" people have fought for our rights too. Activism doesn't have a gate requiring a diagnosis before you can pass. And it's not appropriation, either. Disabilities aren't made out of files or pieces of paper, they're constructions based on the lived experiences of disabled people; and some disabled people don't have a paper for it.

[@rissthebee]

@@nicokelly6453 I’m not claiming people with ADHD don’t have it before getting diagnosed, and I’m not invalidating those of us who don’t have a diagnosis yet. What I AM saying is you can’t put a title on yourself before becoming diagnosed. That’s my only point I’m making. I am physically disabled. I have a degenerative condition. Many people in today’s society claim to be disabled, neurodivergent, have sensory processing disorder, or specifically to be autistic. If you fit all the criteria’s you find online, great. I’m not denying the self help, the coping skills of the learning. I just HIGHLY recommend searching for evaluation. It allows accommodations in academics, it opens up doors to support groups, it provides access to psychiatry and proper medication. Self diagnosis is appropriation when there is no follow up. No search to see if you are actually what you say you are. It could be something else. I just want people to get the help that best suits their individual person. And I personally know how distressing the stigmas put on people who actually have these things can be, who are trying to get professional help. I’m speaking from experience. Doctors didn’t listen to me because so many people appropriate these titles. They didn’t even think to listen to me until I started threatening to send myself to the hospital for an unbiased evaluation. I am mentally ill, disabled, and neurodivergent. I fight every day for validity. And going through life without proper answers isn’t the way to get the recourses you need.

[@nicokelly6453]

@@rissthebee I think this comes partially from a misunderstanding of what most people who self-diagnose are doing. For the most part it isn't just randomly identifying with a disability they relate to--a lot of people do put a lot of research into it before they identify the way they do. Let me also be clear, there's definitely some disabilities where self diagnosis can't really be done or isn't helpful, like ones where you need specific scans or the criteria is a certain type. But a lot of people have their own genuine reasons for not seeking official diagnosis after finding out about it. As another example: you might call me one of those people who thinks I'm autistic without having a diagnosis of ASD. Me being autistic is backed up by my therapist, psychiatrist, and several other professionals I've talked to. I also have a high statistical likelihood of being autistic, since much of my family is autistic, I have exhibited autistic traits since childhood, and have several disorders that are often comorbid with autism. I have done copious amounts of research into this, and can fairly definitively say I'm autistic. However: I am not currently seeking a diagnosis. First, because I do not have the means to; I'm poor, don't have insurance, and would have to pay for an evaluation out of pocket. And two, because the benefits don't really outweigh the cons. At the moment, getting a diagnosis doesn't much do anything for me, since many of the people in my life are able to give me aid without it. If I end up needing one later for an official reason, I might seek it, but at the moment it doesn't make sense for me to, I and many others in my life are already fairly certain I'm autistic already, so going after a diagnosis to "know for sure" doesn't make sense. Yes, people absolutely don't believe disabled folks about our own disabilities because they think it's a fad or that too many people claim to have them--but in my opinion that's more a fault of ableism and bias than it is of self-diagnosis. It's already well recorded that there is bias in the medical field. Minorities and marginalized groups are especially underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. It just doesn't make sense to me to blame people not believing we have our own disabilities on other people who might be disabled too, rather than on the people who have decided to not believe us about our own life experience. Like if someone says I'm not ADHD because I am not jumping off the walls, or that I'm not autistic because I don't look like a nerdy robot, then I think that's more on their own bias and stereotypes than it is on young people thinking they're autistic without having a professional diagnosis. I don't think someone saying you don't have a certain disability should really based on "lots of other people say that and don't have it" I think it should be based on something more like "here is the actual criteria, symptoms, and traits for it and how you do/don't fit it." I hope that makes sense. I understand what you mean, and yes in some ways it can make it harder to have so many people self diagnosing--but in a lot of cases self diagnosis are peoples only way to actually get aid for what they're experiencing, and for me personally I would rather let some fakers slip into the disabled community then deny even more people the help and support they needed.

[@rissthebee]

@@nicokelly6453 I completely understand where you’re coming from, thank you for taking the time to talk this out with me.

[@evelynnfantasma13]

I'm about to go to a new college starting this month. I dropped out of my previous college last year and I've transferred over to this new one with a major in Graphic Design. With the current pandemic, it's going to be tough for me to make new friends and keep them. I'm also autistic and queer, so that adds a whole new level of difficulty to my situation. Side note: I love the T bottle earrings.

[@acetraineraster5171]

I have not gotten any sort of diagnosis because it is *~ expensive ~* but I do exhibit a lot of typical female autistic traits (I won't self-diagnose, I'm just saying I exhibit a lot of traits that a neurotypical person might not, or at least not to the extent that I do) and high school, especially during this pandemic and online learning, is HELL for me. I get so overwhelmed because in 2/3 of my classes, I am required to have my camera on. I stim a LOT during class, but I typically do it under my desk so others don't notice. But with my camera on and no desk to stim under, I have to mask. Heavily. And it's exhausting. And also, dogs barking in the background becomes so constant that I can't focus on the work being presented because someone's dog is barking. Different lighting on different cameras is SO weird to me. I feel like everyone is staring at me in particular. I hate it.

[@disneybeauty6336]

Finding this video almost 2 years later. You are awesome! I'm also an Autistic college student (finishing up my Masters now) but I really didn't get much experience living on campus (I did for about 6 months before Covid hit, only time I've lived away from home). Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@JadeDRail]

I'm convinced I'm autsitc but my therapist "doesn't think labels are necessary" my parents dismissed me and my psychiatrist just asked my mom if I had childhood signs, she said no and he was like "ok nah". And it's like I was right about ADHD and I was right about Bipolar, so IDK, maybe I'm right??? Yes, I'm bitter, this is really annoying to me.

[@harveyhearse]

i love the way u speak, it makes me feel so comforted about my future hah. thanks for the advice, it really helps :)

[@itsabirditsaplaneitsaclown7394]

cool video, nice hair, and awesome testosterone earings. i definitely want to do that when i start T.

[@cecilross2848]

I just finished my freshman year, but plan on speed-running the rest of online highschool. This video just made me so excited to make friends and go places and be a real person.

[@epiccoolawesomehandle]

oh--oh my goodness. i just watched a video from a year ago, you pass so well!! i aspire to be like you!

[@LucyAmelia]

i've been waiting for this video i'm so excited❤️ thank u for doing this bby x

[@LexustheLeaf]

I had to drop out my second semester because of covid. They switched to online and I just couldn't cope with the set up as well as my mental health. I'm not currently diagnosed but am seeking a diagnosis.

[@unknownuser4664]

Welp there's goes your successful life 🤷 down the drain just because your mental health was too much of an importance and fragile you rather drop out instead of trying to act like a grown up and get through it

[@LexustheLeaf]

@@unknownuser4664 your comment is ignorant.

[@unknownuser4664]

@@LexustheLeaf And it's you sound like you have the attitude of having the victim mentality 😒 so I beg to differ

[@LexustheLeaf]

@@unknownuser4664 Whatever you say. I hope you have a good day. 😁

[@iloveursymbolbytheway8971]

su_xel I mean to be fair dropping out because of Covid is also pretty ignorant

[@brooks1827]

omg i LOVE your hair!!!

[@gabrielryan7003]

I'm starting a fairly rigorous university program (engineering) and i'm fairly sure I have ADHD (still trying to get a diagnosis). Although ADHD and autism aren't really the same thing this video was still very helpful, thanks.

[@iris-om8pj]

your hair here is so cool!!

[@ThylineTheGay]

i can relate to a lot of the sensory and social issues

[@hellmind1304]

Thank you for this video, it was interesting to learn about your experience and feelings about your first college year! I'm on the autistic spectrum and am going to be a senior this year with major in International Relations. My uni program is very intense and demanding, but it also gave me a lot of knowledge and skills, so it all pays off in the end and I love studying anyways. I have a lot of struggles with social interaction (basically, I physically cannot look into people's eyes when talking to them, don't get any hints, am lacking in empathy and the list goes on), but to be quite honest, as we mostly work in either mini groups (about 3 people), or a bit larger, but still quite small groups (~12 people), I feel comfortable enough to express my thoughts and opinions freely. I also do not live on campus, which makes the whole experience a lot easier (I'm sorry that you didn't quite get along with your roommate, lots of luck this year!). And yesss, the library has been my safe place too, I usually do my homework there in free time completely alone (quite early, at 9 am, as I have a 7:20 German class). And yeah, I'm not from US, I'm from Moscow, Russia, actually. Lots of love xo✨

[@ctja846]

THE SPEED AT WHICH I CLICKED!!!!!!! ashton thank u u have my love and support and also this video was rly helpful!! happy stim!!

[@anniehowell5320]

As an English ex student I'm glad we never share a room at uni here.

[@oblivion3139]

are- are those- are those T bottle earrings? I ARE THOSE T BOTTLE *EARRINGS*? I adore that. Holy shit.

[@fay9925]

As an autistic non binary person i feel so comfortable on your channel, thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@probablymalware9904]

Realizing how amazing my high school was right now 👀 It is very large, made up of about 20 different smaller buildings, with a very open plan so the crowding was minimal. They have gender neutral bathrooms as well as male/female ✨👌. You could take your lunch where ever you wanted on campus, even in teachers’ classrooms if they allowed it. Some teachers held clubs in their rooms during lunch (do other schools not do this?), the GSA was in the library so you can guess where I was. Older students were allowed to go off campus during lunch. I still take my dog there to run around the school, that’s how big it is.

[@Vampirate_]

As another autistic person, I totally relate. Especially with people dropping subtle hints, cause I can’t catch onto subtlety

[@lilagemstone8299]

I was so lucky that one of my flatmates is trans and autistic and all of us are queer so I get to be myself more than i did in school. I also can relate so much to what you said about having other autistic (and queer) people irl

[@jrrose6689]

Thank you so much for talking about this! I can relate to so much of it

[@aac_alien]

How is the disability services office? I know it's different for every school, but what's your experience? I'm Autistic and I'm going to need some extra support.

[@Robotneonunicorn]

sastronaut hope you don’t mind me adding an answer. My university’s accommodations office is super awesome! Everyone is professional and gave me extra accommodations for emergencies. I think most universities are going to have good accommodations. Just make sure you get your forms filled out be your doctors before going. I was out of state and it took a while to get mine done.

[@Man-ej6uv]

i think i might be autistic. i want to go to a professional to make sure,,,, these videos really comfort me.

[@AndesMints94]

Ever since being in the hospital numerous times from mental breakdowns, I've been able to express myself more. I have autism, ADHD, bipolar, and psychosis. I was officially diagnosed, but I don't remember what the cost of it was. I'm still getting that sorted. Anyways, when a coworker of mine got really close to me to explain what the sandwich was that I needed, I flinched and had my hands close to my chest, as if ready to fight. She always seems to groan her words out, it's loud and annoying. So I walked away for a bit, and came back.

[@daniellen4678]

I've been wondering if I'm autistic for a little while now. I'm not neurotypical as I have cerebral palsy and I have trouble processing senses as ever since I can remember I've always rocked back and forth.

[@3wombatsinapinstripesuit776]

Your room is goals

[@coleharischristopoulou3398]

I am autistic and in high school how do I tell teachers I have sensory problems without them letting my parents know

[@Ejay_Southbay]

Do u know about the doc film Autism Goes to College?

[@brookejohnson9914]

My school didn't have any autism-related orgs so I just joined the anime club

[@kenzielwahn]

Moving out on my own made me realize how much I need a schedule. Before this semester started I was forgetting to eat or change clothes or really just do basic things. Also- I’m not officially diagnosed, but I’ve done like pre-assessments and stuff that say I am very likely autistic. How long did it take you to accept it and claim it as a label for yourself

[@Itri_Vega]

I went to uni in Germany and having to pick a schedule was a bit difficult at first, but once I had set it I was fine. Note that I am not officially diagnosed (at least not in regards to autism, though there has always been a suspicion that was never acted on by my parents or doctors because I am AFAB) and I was so deep in the closet about being trans that I could say hi to the king of Narnia. The good thing about uni was that I could somewhat pick classes that matched my special interests. I studied history and egyptology and within those I was able to research a lot of my interests on top of finding new ones (some examples: pyramid text 273/274, also known as the "Cannibal Hymn", Alexander the Great, the tactics of Genghis Khan, the Three Kingdom period of China and so forth). However, from my experience building an actual career, especially one involving archaeology, requires a lot of social chess. You need to be present at lots of conferences and make connections, get on the good side of your professors and so on. Personally, I am not very outgoing, I often feel out of place at social gatherings, which was further amplified by me being the only person of colour present, the only (closeted) trans person and just general overwhelm by all these people, noises and smells. I'm fine with crowds if I truly want to be somewhere but not if I feel I have to attend. I'm also unable to flatter people and brownnose my way into a job, I am too blunt for that and I detest small talk, and was recovering from anorexia and depression at the time so I had even less energy to mask, meaning at most events I would shut down and become monosyllabic. When the pandemic hit I freelanced for a while and then returned to my old job as a librarian, but at a campus library so I could still feed my brain with all the knowledge, retain access to databases and enjoy the peace and quiet of a library whenever needed.

[@Itri_Vega]

Also thank you for the resources on the term "Asperger's", I knew there was some sort of controversy around it but most articles I found just explained what kind of neurodivergence it is and not the history of the term.

[@KiraCatsoup]

I need to start watching your videos again, cause you are pretty damn cool :3

[@nesy5041]

I've been to like 3 different high schools, i've always had no proper friends and was always alone and very quiet as well i liked staying by myself and not really talking to anyone but i felt depression the whole time and high anxiety, i still have til today and now i'm 20 years old and i'm not that shy as i use to be but i'm becoming more open to people- but i don't care if i have ASD, i like being different and my own persona.

[@KiraCatsoup]

Ok, so I am currently questioning if I might be autistic besides having ADD, and I love concerts of nice bands and smaller home Partys where there are people I know. Also this one party where there where a lot of people in drag lol. On the other hand I feel really uncomfortable in other party scenarios where I would have to interact with strangers or the vibe just isn't the way I need it. Also, I am really into hanging out outside in front of the actual party, where it is quieter and there are less people which you then can actually have neat conversations with. So all in all, I always felt like that would not allign with being autistic, so your perspective on Partys really helps. Thanks :3 Still need to consider a lot tho. Complex thing and all.

[@Jordan-pp5bo]

Hello, I have autism When I went to college (I stopped because online classes do not work for me, I'm going back when in person classes are back) I had a huge problem with not having a strict high school-like schedule College is just so far removed from what I already was used to, so it was a big change for me

[@indigoryder2930]

:") feeling real alive rn thx u much love~!!

[@alextuohy861]

totally unrelated to the video but how did you make your t bottle earrings? they're really cool

[@wintereyes2145]

dude your hair is KILLING it, wtf

[@magicfuzzyworm]

Ashton you’re gonna have to teach us how to make those t bottle earrings

[@Funkopopsstorewalkthroughsunbo]

I am autistic and I am quite nervers about starting college in September

[@wearenotdoinggethelp3333]

i'm a trans autistic person in one of my last years of school, doing major exams and going through the diagnosis process- just hoping I finish it before/in the early time next school year bc I'm not sure I can handle being unrecognized for that longer.

[@griffithsgodhand]

This is really off topic, but I love your hair!!

[@blue_1080]

Ah I love your videos sm I’m also a trans person on the spectrum I look up to you and how well spoken you are thank you for making these amazing videos! (Also I got my first binder today!!)

[@thegentlethem5867]

I'm sorry your roommate experience was so shitty. fwiw, I was randomly assigned 4 roommates and they turned out to be my best friends. they were all cis girls and I wasn't out yet though, so that may have contributed. Also, pro tip: if you don't have to pay per class, (some places have this and others don't) load your schedule to the max it can take and drop one before the drop date if it seems like it's going to be too hard. that way, if it's a class you have to take you're ahead of the game, and if it isn't, you can try to take something better in its place. and if you don't have to drop any you're ahead of schedule and have some wiggle room if you fail a class or something.

[@JDprk6742]

I just started the video but kinda went off on a really aggressively happy rant about your t ear rings!!!!

[@silentfox1738]

im autistic too and im cis but this is a good video and also if ur trans that's cool that's ur bag(that's a good term)

[@silentfox1738]

and the makeup looks cool too

[@nietonicolebabe]

Hi, my cousin is autistic and I'm learning how to help him enter college? What are some tips?

[@milo1493]

hi i'm also trans (ftm) and autistic ('high functioning' but that shouldn't matter) :)

[@hamishfatcat3385]

I really needed this vid rn

[@kellyofearth2092]

Cool video. I appreciate the insight as someone with autism, starting college in September. Your style is really rad by the way ♛

[@honestguyintelligent3022]

"ITS TIME FOR YOU TO FIND JESUS!!!" My solution: *Flips the guy off*

[@13._.1]

you were in my recommended before I knew I was trans, and I watched a couple of your videos before knowing I was autistic...

[@oonooooooooo]

it’s my second day here and holy crap

[@worms7382]

HAIR BIG !!! I LIKE IT

[@chloestan9]

Lol I have classes at 8am and wake up at 6:30 too , and I’m autistic too!

[@brynl-k4118]

Kick ass hair and makeup

[@ctja846]

oh!!! yes!!! remove the stigma from not pursuing an "official" diagnosis!!!! if you know, you know!

[@julianrivera460]

I also am up at 6am if I have work at 9, but it's because I'm a morning person and taking my time hehe