We all have unique personalities
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More Than a Label
By Monique Tranchina
Defining a person by a label is never indicative of who he is and what he can aspire to be . People are complex beings ; they can be quiet artists , outgoing leaders , tough tennis players , etc . Now add other dimensions to those labels . Are they mothers , fathers , adopted children ? Do they exhibit ironies , such as being creative in the arts yet highly organized and meticulous in keeping a neat house ? Think about the people you only see in one setting , such as a postal clerk . Do you find yourself limiting their image to their job duties and customer service ? Such labeling of others is also true with autism . Though autistics are usually known to be logical , socially inept and awkward , there is so much more to a person than his or her diagnosis and symptoms . We all have unique personalities that make us who we are and give us the opportunity to experience life the way no one else can , so we might as well step outside of our box and see the larger picture because we are so much more than our autism . Rather than seeing ourselves as limited by an autism diagnosis , our special gifts also allow us to form healthy relationships and be successful in everyday life , no matter where we lie on the spectrum .
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We all have unique personalities
that make us who we are and give us the opportunity to experience life the way no one else can .
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I am a runner . I like to run outside and feel the wind pass over my body . I am a sewer . I make tangible objects from designs I create with cloth . I am a student . I love to learn and question the world around me . And I have autism . I too often miss social cues , have a hard time with sequencing work and school activities , and shut down from information or stress overload . Even with these disabilities , I don ’ t automatically think of myself as “ someone with autism ” when I have a social hiccup , walking into a new environment and not knowing how to act . I don ’ t remind myself that I am autistic when I enjoy my hobbies or talk to someone I love . Knowing I have autism helps because there is an underlying reason for why I think and feel the way I do apart from others sometimes . But when I connect to my deepest self , for example when I write , I feel joy for expressing the most emotional parts of me , and suddenly the world melts away while the words on the page reflect the beauty of what ’ s inside . I don ’ t have to fear that my supposed limitations will inhibit my abilities to succeed , and neither should you . Whether you are good at making a great cup of tea , loving your dog or making someone else smile with a simple joke , you have what it takes to be a person outside of any label .
Take some time to explore what makes you stand apart from others and appreciate what you have to offer . Understanding who you are and wanting to grow in all your areas of interest is completely healthy , human and wholesome !
Monique is a senior undergrad college student with Asperger ’ s who enjoys writing , reading and being in nature .
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