The prospect of joining the working world is a scary thought for anyone. Being on the spectrum amplifies that fear. Will I be able to assimilate? Will I be able to work productively with others? Will I be able to keep up with a schedule? Or handle the sensory and mental responsibility of functioning in a new space? The questions are endless and constantly nag at the back of my mind. And of course, there are no concrete answers. There’s no way to eradicate those fears necessarily, but fears can be turned into excitement! The unknown is scary and it may never viscerally feel good to be in such a transitional phase, but you can develop tactics to remind yourself of the end goal. Remind yourself of what’s going right, instead of all the things that could go or feel wrong. It can be hard to look toward the future when you’re blinded by the bombardment of senses and emotions, but there are ways to ground yourself. Create concrete, physical reminders. Something akin to a vision board! Make sure you can see the future, and that it doesn’t exist in your mind as a whirlwind of unknowns. You’re able to do whatever you put your mind to, which includes finding your place in a neurotypical working world. Have faith in your abilities and stand up for yourself. Be transparent with your employers. And if being on the spectrum is any type of deal breaker, then the job doesn’t deserve you and your valuable skills. Trust the process and trust your abilities; you’ll find your way if you put yourself out there and step outside your comfort zone into a new job or career.
~Anonymous Writer
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