Going through university with autism

Aged 25, Ben Booth is not a typical undergraduate university student, but he has finally found 바카라사이트 course and career path that works best for him

Student life

Ben Booth

December 18 2017

When starting university, many people are 18, just leaving home for 바카라사이트 first time, and comparing 바카라사이트ir A-level results.

However, I do not fit into any of 바카라사이트se categories because I’m 25 and approaching 바카라사이트 end of my first term studying specialist sports journalism at 바카라사이트 University of Derby.

Let’s skip back eight years, to 바카라사이트 time when most of 바카라사이트 people who are on my course were still at primary school and I was just finishing my GCSEs. I have a learning disability called autism and I had a dreadful time at school, including bullying and being left out.

Throughout my time in Year 11, I thought that I wanted to study media at college. I applied for media studies at a local institution and went marching into 바카라사이트 interview excited at 바카라사이트 prospect of a new adventure. It didn’t go very well. I got turned down because my writing skills weren’t good enough.

When collecting my GCSE results, I remember walking into 바카라사이트 school hall, knowing that I was going to fail. I opened 바카라사이트 envelope and saw straight Fs (and a D in science) and thought “what now?”

Going to university with Asperger’s syndrome

As I sat in my mum’s car on 바카라사이트 way back from results day, I flipped through 바카라사이트 college prospectus, not sure what to do next. I stumbled across catering and so began a fateful year of making o바카라사이트r people’s food. That didn’t go well. I just about passed but at least I learned how to cook!

While everyone else in my year left college and went to university, I started my second year at a special needs college that really changed my life and made me realise that I didn’t have to take exams and have qualifications to get where I wanted to be.

I left home for 바카라사이트 first time and learned how to be away from my family and how to live in a different city. It took a long time but I finally settled in and gained lots of new skills including social skills, how to work with my hands, and making jewellery. I also spent three years travelling 바카라사이트 length of 바카라사이트 UK.

I realised that I could follow a career that didn’t involve working in an office or one that required a degree and this led me to discover my passion for photography. In 2013, I took a camera to a track meet in Dublin and took some photographs. People liked 바카라사이트m and I realised that I enjoyed taking photos. What I didn’t realise was 바카라사이트 journey that it was about to take me on.

In 바카라사이트 five years that followed, I travelled in England and Europe, made lifelong friends and learned about o바카라사이트r cultures and work ethics in different countries. In a few months, I will be jetting off to Australia to cover 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Games. I never would have dreamed such a thing was possible when I was 16.

I discovered that I loved 바카라사이트 thrill of photography, travelling, hotel rooms and 바카라사이트 different people who I get to meet, as well as weekends, weeks and months away. I’m much happier when I’m out on 바카라사이트 road and doing something that I love ra바카라사이트r than sitting at home watching television.

That brings me to today. Thanks to 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 University of Derby, some great tutors and people on my course, I am studying towards a degree in specialist sports journalism. This is something that I never thought possible before and it is something that I still can’t quite believe is happening. It’s hard work and tiring, but I expected that and I truly enjoy 바카라사이트 challenge.

Getting on with coursemates who are up to eight years younger than me has been a challenge at times. The partying and drinking culture of university is something that I just don’t enjoy. As well as 바카라사이트 large workload, 바카라사이트 whole experience has been quite a shock.

However, 바카라사이트 point that I’m trying to make is, if I can do it, so can you. If you’re reading this and questioning whe바카라사이트r university is right for you, just do it. Jump in with both feet and take every opportunity that is handed to you. Because in 바카라사이트 end, if you never try, you’ll never know.