ASD: My Experiences with Asperger’s Syndrome - My Story

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This is me: George Barrett; and this my story of triumph and tragedy whilst having to live with a conflicted mind, grappling with the sense of identity that comes with being on the spectrum; mental health struggles and all.

OK; let’s rewind a bit here: It was late 2011; I was enjoying life in primary school when my parents gave me the news; where I was taken in to a doctor’s office and given the news: George, you are on the autism spectrum. My initial response was joy, because I actually felt special. (Remember this for later) Ahh, the innocence of youth, fast-forward to late 2013 where I enter Harris Academy Chafford Hundred; a place I’d now choose to forget due to the trauma it caused me.

My first few years were fairly painless, however the bullying didn’t cease; everyone knew I was different due to the fact that I couldn’t defend myself emotionally or physically due to my pacifist thinking. Why do I say this? Simple. They were ignorant, arrogant and selfish people only out for themselves; whereas I just wanted acceptance (despite all the help the SLCN [Speech, Language and Communication Needs] Base unit gave me); I fell into a hidden depression by which I was just lonely throughout the majority of my school life, no one genuine to confide in. As those who may have read the second my life as an Aspie post will know: I confessed to having thoughts of depression and just general darkness clouding my vision; thusly the Pastoral team finally got their act together and got me into remedial counselling.

Once I graduated from that hellish place; I just felt low despite all the good things I had going for me, but I was on an upward striking, as I’d been able to indulge my passion for art and video games during the summer break.

My passion for art eventually blossomed as I’d been accepted into my local college: USP Palmers College (originally Palmer’s College); working alongside a variety of very talented professors who taught me all I know. And y’know what else they did? They acknowledged my traits as genuine positives and helped me to grow those positives into a stepping stone in order to further develop my own mental self-standing.

As I write this; coming forward next week, I’ll be seeing my teachers one last time. The 14th of May is the day when I leave the place I felt honoured to call my safe haven for 3 years.

Thank you so much.