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aussiebloke
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29 Apr 2015, 2:32 am

I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen , the vast majority where unemployed skilled professionals , some only able to get part time work in unskilled employment , when was the last time you saw a unemployed tradesman , electricians charge more than a gp . 8O

Though Australia not having had a recession in nearly 25 years that could all change soon ,


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Layercake
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09 Jun 2015, 7:24 am

I have an undergrad degree in economics and finance. Since landing an awesome and rewarding job with that degree I have also done a diploma of management.

My only life long 'special interest' has been money. From money I have branched out into things like economics, finance (duh), business systems, accounting, currencies, commodities, law and politics. I even have a collection of coins and notes from all over the world, not to spend or show anyone. It's just sits there, slowly growing :)

The obsession with money and business stems from my childhood interest in trains. I remember a conversation with my grandfather when I was very young where I asked him what I would need to do to buy my own train, as in a real full size train with my own private track. He said I would need lots and lots of money. After further questioning he explained that the best way to get that much money would be to become a businessman.

Since then I have lost the interest in trains, but retained the interest in the business world and especially the systemisation of business processes. That's why I have my job.

Of further interest is the fact that a recent promotion put me in a position where the social and relational demands of my environment exceeded the ability of my coping mechanisms ..... you know the rest ;) Now I'm on Wrong Planet!

I've never read so much about the intricacies of the human mind until the last month or so. If it weren't for that conversation with my grandfather I would probably not be here now. I was lucky enough to develop a special interest that has encouraged me to push on towards my goal of becoming a wealthy and successful business person no matter how many times I was knocked down or rejected. That interest led me to get the education I have.

I'll happily admit there were times at uni when I had major struggles. I was late to many, many lectures and even some exams. I would often go to the wrong class or turn up at the wrong time. I would forget people's names and not recognise people in the halls. I would struggle to start assignments and figure out what was the right thing to focus my study on, but when I got started and figured it out I was able to produce top quality work.

There were lots of subjects I struggled to understand too. But I would keep trying regardless. Eventually my persistence would pay off and I would understand the concept I was working at. There are still some things which though I understand them, I can not explain how I cam to understand them.

I even did some tutoring work while at uni and for a couple of years after. While in second year I tutored a masters student in biostatistics, I also tutored two undergrad students in epidemiology (this might seem odd, but once you understand stats for one discipline it is easy to understand stats for other disciplines). I even taught a class in basic maths and was a class tutor for business statistics. Though I didn't recognise it at the time there were times during these sessions when I would have what I now recognise as mild panic attacks. Over the years I have become very good at maintaining my composure during these attacks and I can even hide it from some of my closest friends, so I was able to pull myself together and get on with the class).

I apologise if this post seems too wordy or verbose. I am not trying to brag or show off. The reason for my sharing all this is I have seen a number of statistics thrown about in regards to unemployment and underemployment in the ASD population and I would like to do whatever I can to help fix what I think is a huge problem and I think my experiences may put me in a position to do so.

We aspergians have a great deal to offer society and because of our differences we are often overlooked. At the same time as achieving the successes I outlined above I have also experienced torment, ridicule, rejection and outright bullying. I've always had low self esteem and have tended to think that in spite of my accomplishments I had probably done something to deserve it. That bullying and low self esteem has been a constant fixture in my life for as long as I can remember, so I've tended to accept it as a given and just gotten on with what I wanted to do in spite of it. Now I want to show other people how to do the same thing.

I'm even in the process of writing a book about my experiences and how I have gotten to where I am today in spite of and sometimes with the assistance of the difficulties I have faced. If you're on the spectrum and you read this please don't let your differences get in the way of striving for what you want. I found a way and so can you. I'm so grateful to have found that there are other people who think like me and even more grateful that I may be in a position to help.

Namaste.



Apricity
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05 Apr 2016, 10:36 am

Of course, for example, my uncle has Asperger's and he has a Ph.D in Physics



threequarters
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07 Apr 2016, 7:05 pm

Ph.D and two MAs. Double major undergrad. My area of specialization is very close to a special interest.
It's easier, more pleasant, and more interesting to study than to socialize.



GiantHockeyFan
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08 Apr 2016, 8:20 am

aussiebloke wrote:
I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen , the vast majority where unemployed skilled professionals , some only able to get part time work in unskilled employment , when was the last time you saw a unemployed tradesman , electricians charge more than a gp . 8O

Though Australia not having had a recession in nearly 25 years that could all change soon ,


It was so depressing when I would sit in the hockey dressing room with my Economics degree working minimum wage jobs and living with my parents in my mid 20s while the kids barely out of Trade School had trucks, homes, girlfriends etc. What's sadder was that it's what I wanted to do that too but every 'expert' told me that it was an unstable career path for dropouts and the future is in eCommerce, especially for smart kids like me. Shortly after enrolling in University, the dot com bubble burst and never recovered. Granted the skilled trades have took a nosedive lately but some of these kids (barely 21) made close to a THOUSAND dollars a day in the Alberta oil fields. Granted the work was brutal but think of the incredible nest egg I could have created with that!

I now have one Certificate in Building Operations from a top college and am getting three more by this time next year. Hopefully I will finally be able to land a well paying job after all that. I should have gone for electronics: I've done three courses over the years: I got 100, A+ and 100 respectively.



kraftiekortie
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08 Apr 2016, 8:29 am

What did you do in the hockey dressing room?

You must have met some great hockey players!



SirMiles
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08 Apr 2016, 9:32 pm

I graduate this semester with 3.95 GPA. It's not an advanced degree though. Merely a bachelor of science... Integrative studies in sociology, business, and health promotion. Academics are not difficult for me... the intellectual side of it, that is. However, completing this degree has nearly killed me. I suffered a major mental breakdown last year (lost 20 lbs, major insomnia, was nearly hospitalized)... there are so many people, relationships, and noises at school. When I come home from class, I have to turn off all the lights and decompress for an hour usually. I obsess over all the information and sometimes don't know what is important so I take in everything... it is taxing. My University has over 36,000 students. That is WAY too many people for me! So, the process of attending school is what is actually the most difficult for me. I think many Aspies are highly educated regardless of whether or not they have a formal education.


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bobobobo
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10 Apr 2016, 3:25 pm

Yes I have à masters degree and know à lot of AS people with à master and Some of them are dr.



JimSpark
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10 Apr 2016, 6:12 pm

GiantHockeyFan wrote:
aussiebloke wrote:
I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen , the vast majority where unemployed skilled professionals , some only able to get part time work in unskilled employment , when was the last time you saw a unemployed tradesman , electricians charge more than a gp . 8O

Though Australia not having had a recession in nearly 25 years that could all change soon ,


It was so depressing when I would sit in the hockey dressing room with my Economics degree working minimum wage jobs and living with my parents in my mid 20s while the kids barely out of Trade School had trucks, homes, girlfriends etc. What's sadder was that it's what I wanted to do that too but every 'expert' told me that it was an unstable career path for dropouts and the future is in eCommerce, especially for smart kids like me. Shortly after enrolling in University, the dot com bubble burst and never recovered. Granted the skilled trades have took a nosedive lately but some of these kids (barely 21) made close to a THOUSAND dollars a day in the Alberta oil fields. Granted the work was brutal but think of the incredible nest egg I could have created with that!

I now have one Certificate in Building Operations from a top college and am getting three more by this time next year. Hopefully I will finally be able to land a well paying job after all that. I should have gone for electronics: I've done three courses over the years: I got 100, A+ and 100 respectively.


I'm 46, so I'm older than you, but have a similar outlook. Looking back, me and those of my generation were fooled into believing that college educations, specifically what is/was called "liberal arts" degrees here in the U.S., would be very valuable to those who acquired them, and far more valuable than any sort of education that someone might obtain at a vocational school for something like becoming an auto mechanic, electrician or plumber. Well, the complete opposite happened, and any of us who went to college to get economics, sociology, psychology, or geography degrees get zero job opportunities based solely on our college degrees. My Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics is COMPLETELY WORTHLESS. The job experience I obtained related to that degree could still be helpful, but not really to me anymore since I veered off that previous path and now work as a horticulturist. If I had a botany degree, maybe my education would help me but I am one of many people in the workforce nowadays who is the dubious owner of a college degree that will do SWEET F**K ALL for me for the rest of my life.

I went on a bit long here, but perhaps I should just say that ANYBODY is better off avoiding getting a traditional college degree as opposed to getting education related to a skill that people actually value. If my pipes burst in the middle of the night, I'll gladly pay a plumber $100 an hour to fix them, but I don't see myself ever waking up at 3 a.m. thinking, "damn, I'd gladly pay $12 an hour to someone with an economics degree so I can finally resolve this inner conflict I feel when I weigh the consequences of the implementation of Keynesian-based fiscal policies versus using the principles of Milton Friedman's monetaristic policies to understand the relationship between supply and demand, blah blah blah, etc. :cry:

For those young enough for it to matter, do yourself a favor and pursue an educational path that makes you a useful person to society. Vocational schools are probably the best place for this, and many autistic people could successfully complete such an educational path if it corresponds with that person's special interest. NOBODY should bother pursuing anything for a "Bachelor of Arts" degree -- with the exception of those focused on providing education, as Bachelor of Arts degrees (without some subsequent Master's Degree and/or Ph.D. in that field) are completely worthless in today's job market, and will probably be worthless forever going forward.


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GiantHockeyFan
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11 Apr 2016, 9:20 am

kraftiekortie wrote:
What did you do in the hockey dressing room?

You must have met some great hockey players!


Well, what's said in the dressing room stays there :lol: :lol: :lol:

In all seriousness, I have played with players of near all ages and skill levels: anywhere from their very first time on skates up to ex-NHL. One of my groups was originally formed by two "rival" electrical companies, so the majority are electricians or tradesmen and they are all VERY well off for being under 30. I mentioned to one that my high school counsellor called electricians, plumbers, etc 'dropouts' and he laughed and said "$65,000/yr is pretty good for a dropout!"



GiantHockeyFan
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11 Apr 2016, 9:28 am

JimSpark wrote:
I went on a bit long here, but perhaps I should just say that ANYBODY is better off avoiding getting a traditional college degree as opposed to getting education related to a skill that people actually value. If my pipes burst in the middle of the night, I'll gladly pay a plumber $100 an hour to fix them, but I don't see myself ever waking up at 3 a.m. thinking, "damn, I'd gladly pay $12 an hour to someone with an economics degree so I can finally resolve this inner conflict I feel when I weigh the consequences of the implementation of Keynesian-based fiscal policies versus using the principles of Milton Friedman's monetaristic policies to understand the relationship between supply and demand, blah blah blah, etc. :cry:

For those young enough for it to matter, do yourself a favor and pursue an educational path that makes you a useful person to society. Vocational schools are probably the best place for this, and many autistic people could successfully complete such an educational path if it corresponds with that person's special interest. NOBODY should bother pursuing anything for a "Bachelor of Arts" degree -- with the exception of those focused on providing education, as Bachelor of Arts degrees (without some subsequent Master's Degree and/or Ph.D. in that field) are completely worthless in today's job market, and will probably be worthless forever going forward.


I want to save this and read this to my future child when they are in High School. I went for economics because I believed the lie that "employers" want a well-rounded person to work for them. Maybe in a mom and pop shop, but almost all jobs want specialists! Like you said, I would be willing to pay for a competent plumber who specializes in plumbing but I am not going to pay two economists to try to convert me to geolibertarianism or to supply side economics no matter how smart they are.

I remember in my University convocation how they hyped up that only 1% of the world had a University Degree and what a privilege it was. You know what else 1% of the population has? A significant police record! Neither help in the job hunt.



Jo_B1_Kenobi
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11 Apr 2016, 11:25 am

I have autism and have an undergraduate degree (2:1 from Cambridge University in Natural Sciences) and a Masters. I would like to do a Phd but I would need to get funding for it. I found academic work easy but joining other students in the bar almost impossible. Learning things is really a bit of hobby for me.


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aerofan_1
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13 Apr 2016, 8:25 am

Ph.D. in advanced aircraft control theory.
It was nice to be able to lock myself either in the library or the laboratory, shut the world out, and concentrate on a specialist topic for a number of years



GreenSky
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04 May 2016, 7:02 pm

I have the following degrees:

Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Science in Sociology
Graduate Degree: Juris Doctor

If you want to look for people with AS that have higher degrees try: 1) Doctors (MD), and 2) Lawyers (JD).

Personally, I found that the focus and lack of social life HELPED those people get their education.

IMHO the legal field is PERFECT for someone with AS. Lawschool is only 3 years. Added bonus the LSAT is not a test you "study" for because it does not test your knowledge. It tests your logic and reasoning skills which Aspies seem to find easier than NTs.


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QuantumChemist
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05 May 2016, 11:48 am

I have earned a PhD in chemistry and am self-diagnosed with AS. Being able to concentrate on one particular topic for long periods of time did help on the research side of things. Many graduate students get burnt out doing the same thing after a few years and fail to finish the program. Life tends to interfere with some of them, while others just get plain board. The success rate at my PhD university in the chemistry program (from start to finish of all graduate students) averaged around 15 to 20%. AS has caused problems with me being able to do social networking (something that I am currently working on), so that has limited my career somewhat. Since I am already in my 40s, I see that there is no real reason for me to obtain a formal diagnosis from a licensed professional.


My diagnostic scores:
Aspie quiz score: 136, NT score: 86
AQ score: 40
RAADS-R score: 143
(L:12, SR:67, SM33, CI:31)



btbnnyr
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05 May 2016, 6:51 pm

QuantumChemist wrote:
I have earned a PhD in chemistry and am self-diagnosed with AS. Being able to concentrate on one particular topic for long periods of time did help on the research side of things. Many graduate students get burnt out doing the same thing after a few years and fail to finish the program. Life tends to interfere with some of them, while others just get plain board. The success rate at my PhD university in the chemistry program (from start to finish of all graduate students) averaged around 15 to 20%. AS has caused problems with me being able to do social networking (something that I am currently working on), so that has limited my career somewhat. Since I am already in my 40s, I see that there is no real reason for me to obtain a formal diagnosis from a licensed professional.


My diagnostic scores:
Aspie quiz score: 136, NT score: 86
AQ score: 40
RAADS-R score: 143
(L:12, SR:67, SM33, CI:31)


That is a very low success rate.
It is a wonder that the program continues to exist.


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