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Jean Poutine
November 29th, 2008, 04:35 AM
I don't know what to do about the path i will take in life.

there is one thing I haven't told you guys from the get-go. I "suffer" from Asperger's syndrome. from those unaware, what this does is, if you base life on an IQ-like scale, intelligence is normal, however social intelligence is completely retarded. yeah, that's the best way I can put it. I'm socially retarded. I do have a professional diagnostic, and I find the label suits me well.

every patient is different, but my problems include : logical thinking, unspoken communication (gestures, flirting, facial expression) and general independance (my mom generally answers the phone for me, orders my pizzas, gets me to college because I'm too anxious for the bus, basically everything I cannot do, or what I'm scared to do). unlike some people, I only have slight language problem. I have a monotone intonation and tend to speak like a book, but that can easily pass as a quirk.

there are some benefits, though. asperger's gives me a memory that, without being photographic, is still excellent. I do well in things that demand abstract thinking, such as philosophy or literature, since my condition offers me a point of view on the world that few people possess.

I say "suffer" because it's impossible to suffer from something if that's what you have known all your life. my condition does not bother me, socially speaking. I'm built for a lonely life and it suits me.

anyhow...time to move on to what I really wanted to share.

I have numerous interests. my problem is that for everything I'm great at and love, there is always something fundamentally flawed that keeps me from gearing up for a trade I could partake in.

for example, I love computers. I do program easily and learn easily, but my huge problem is maths. due to my lack of logic, I just fail hard at them. I understand the concept (and should do very well in theory) but cannot apply it for the life of me. I just don't "see" what to do. unfortunately computer science needs maths and they're kicking my ass atm. I don't like computers enough to subject myself to this torture. I hate maths with every god damn cell of my body. without maths, no computer science.

I also love languages. I started studying linguistics at 13 and I'm as well versed in the science as an amateur can be. I also love learning languages. i tried to make that my trade. but of course, with my lousy social skills and avertion to people, how the heck can i function in a language class, which emphasises group work for good reason. my year in modern languages was very painful and I was glad to switch until I remembered how I hated maths. without people ability, no languages.

and then there is the problem of availability. all the other stuff I am interested in (law, philosophy, literature, history) are, well, not in high demand. philosophy in particular is useless when finding a job. literature and history make you a teacher or a critic, and I can't stand both because of people. law, well, while I am a good orator, I think I'd hate every client I have. plus there is like one thousand million lawyers, and I always thought the profession takes a special kind of shameless person.

basically, my stupid condition is keeping me from getting a job I like, unless you call being alone in your basement eating cold pizza a job. I simply do not think society can accomodate someone like me. someone that hates both pure sciences and people...

I always told myself I'd go to the master. I can't even find a suitable bachelor. the next thing I'll do is take an appointment with a counselor. I HAVE to find something, even thought I may be different, or mentally ill, depending on how you put it, I want to earn my keep all the same. I don't want to be that dude on welfare. I refuse to be ruined potential.

to that is a second problem. i'm nearly an hikikomori, that being japanese for someone living in extreme social withdrawal. i go out for school. that's it (I said nearly 'cause real hikikomoris don't even do that). I avoid the outside unless I have something really important to buy, and even then I mostly use a CC. I kinda want to work, but I love being home too much. I take the "nowhere is better than home" saying to an extreme. I just hate being outside the house. I fear that might reduce my chances of finding work, as I am emotionally motivated, but not mentally so. I can't bring myself to leave home most of the time, and when I do, it's with the greatest regret.

halp plox.

Hyper
November 29th, 2008, 09:10 PM
Well I think Your motivated by both but deep inside because of your natural lack of social ability you obviously prefer to stay home as your social craving is smaller and you know you don't perform well in social situations anyway.. So its best to stay home and do what you want & interests you and be comfortable as none of us feel comfortable doing something we're not good at.

And I like your attitude as you don't consider yourself suffering, Your attitude is great!! It is something that WILL get you far in life. Your just a bit frustrated thats all, you need to clear your head and think what would make YOU HAPPY not what OTHERS DEMAND.

Because even if you get a job which pays alot of money and is in demand it wont be the same as getting the job you want to do, even if that job pays less money and is not in high demand.

Plus I think your frustration is causing you to look at things too stiffly

Theres alot you can do in History. You don't have to be a teacher you can do fieldwork, research, archiver theres alot to do in history that could suit you if your truly interested.

Just think about your interests and search it up online theres so much jobs out there that most of us have never heard of. And is your counselor also a guidance(job) counselor?? If he/she is thats good, insightful pair.

Well yeah I can't think of what more to say You've got a great attitude so don't loose it!

Btw I hate math with every cell in my body as well!

Jean Poutine
November 29th, 2008, 09:43 PM
what would make me happy is history. I've spent many a night reading books on ancient roman statemen. I've read many roman thinkers and some greek one (I'm a roman fanboy through and through, even if a lot of their culture is borrowed from the greeks).

unfortunately I cannot help but sigh when I look at statistics. something like 40% placement rate...then again I AM great at school so more likely than not I'd figure in the 40% that does find a job within the field.

a part of me also wants me to stop being a kid, and just re-do my maths if I phail. that way I could get into economics which is another thing I love long time.

furthermore, what would happen if everyone looked at the 40% placement rate and decided not to major in history?

Hyper
November 29th, 2008, 10:15 PM
Listen just don't sweat over it. If you like it just do it

Field research + archiving would be perfect for you on first impression. One would get you out and atleast socialize regarding history which you could do succesfully. The other would just be a brain tickle.

I think you could get somewhere because you seem like the genius kid type. And if your sure it would make you happy then do it, you'll gain alot of peace of mind once you've decided and set a course for yourself

People need goals to work for.

Jean Poutine
November 29th, 2008, 11:02 PM
yeah you're right. I mustn't look at statistics. I've decided to stick with computer science one more semester while I see a guidance counselor to sort it out. then at the end of the semester, I'll switch majors if I find something interesting.

that being said, I was in the shower and I decided to stop giving up at the first thing. I'm not good in maths but I also did nothing the whole semester. I'm very used to doing nothing and getting As - except this time I got caught with my pants down Ã* la George Micheals.

so I decided that even if I phail, i'll just take them back and work hard this time. I have a weakness I must overcome. it's like a challenge. plus if I phail I'm going to help myself and take physics and chemistry, which I traded in high school for history and spanish.

I always thought phailing was shameful - but screw that. I realised phailing is only an error. one learns from his errors. if I ever do maths again, I learned that I can't afford doing nothing except playing WoW, unlike in any other class. I'm prepared.

since I'm confused about my career, it's important for me to leave doors open ; something I unfortunately understood a little late. but since late is better than never, I can still do it. med school is not something I would hate. as I said, I'm also interested in economics. physics also look fun...

I'm just going to give me some time to decide. I;ve always thought 18 was much too young to decide for a career.

hey, if all else fails, I have algebra II and I'm in decent shape - I'll just enroll in the army as an officer! that way I'll also learn the social game the hard way.

Hyper
November 29th, 2008, 11:04 PM
Lol or You'll become an arbitary, cruel general :P

In there you guys atleast got choices so stick to the things that interests you and do some research with your counselor on what possible jobs are out there which match your interested subjects & fields

Jean Poutine
December 17th, 2008, 06:38 PM
I have an update about my student situation.

I have noticed a certain program that I like a lot in another college. It's basically Modern Languages mixed with lots and lots of French literature. What's not to like (for me)? Heck I can even choose NOT to take fucking Spanish. I'll be taking German and French.

Also, it's an Anglophone college. So I'll be speaking English all the time over there. I just need to get a transfer request off and have it granted.

Why am I switching again? I failed calculus. I don't like CS enough to do math all the time. I failed it, brahs. Over the weekend I had basically redone the textbook, to no avail. I'm just not a math person I s'pose.

I have stated that I did not like languages because I cannot stand being with people. I can stand being with people now, simply because I was recently prescribed SSRIs. I can tolerate speaking to people now, although I don't do it very well, it doesn't cause weakness, gosebumps, cold sweats, moist palms, stomachaches, headaches and a huge spike in pulse anymore.

So yeah. This is what I'll be doing. If my transfer request is denied...well I can't really work yet. Time will tell.