When special interests are your only reason for living

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Special interests have always been my main autistic trait. If my parents tried to take them away from me like I hear some parents do, I probably would have attempted suicide. Ever since I learned what a veterinarian was and that the role wasn't restricted to the lady we took our pets to once a year or even just pets, I always wanted to be one myself. But since I wasn't good at math I was told I couldn't be one.

I eventually realized I had dyscalculia and could get help for it and that a pre vet major wasn't ALL math like my mother made it out to be. I got sick around 15 due to some meds I was taking that were supposed to help me sleep but actually made me do nothing but sleep, and then again at 20 when taking one for anxiety that made me dizzy all the time to the point I couldn't walk.

People were telling me I was too old to apply for veterinary school. That didn't make since but I asked the American veterinary association and they said there isn't one and that they prefer applicants that are in their 30's and 40's over the typical 20's something. So people can't hold that over me any more. But honestly, if I could never be a vet for whatever reason, I possibly would kill myself. Let me have my dreams people. Let me work to obtain them even if they aren't possible for me. Let me THINK they are possible. Don't try to kill them at 4 like my mother tried to do because it was something she couldn't do.

But become a vet is pretty much my only reason for living. I tried to explain it to my mother and she just went on about how I will go to Hell if I kill myself. I wasn't saying I wanted to kill myself, I was saying that becoming a vet is the only reason I haven't tried yet and that I don't appreciate her not supporting me. Oh, and there is no limit for how many times you can apply for vet school. I heard of a lady with lots of educational disabilities who tried five times before getting accepted. She eventually got in and now works with special needs animals. I wish I could remember her name. It was on a show called "Animal Miracles" hosted by Alan Thicke on a defunct TV channel called "Pax". Anyway if she can do it so can I. I just wish people would accept the fact I will spend my whole life trying to be a vet and wish they would stop telling me to do other things. They don't get it that THIS is what I want to do and pretty much the only reason I choose to live.

You can become a veterenary technician or a dog groomer or a pet sitter/walker at a pet agency. Often, for aspies, it is more practical to go for a non-professional job that does not require many college degrees as that can be too hard.

But there are aspies who are doctors and vets. Temple Grandin would be that type!

Cooking, meditating, and doing exercises such as foam rolling or yoga or weights can put a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment to life that makes one WANT to live.

Special interests have always been my main autistic trait. If my parents tried to take them away from me like I hear some parents do, I probably would have attempted suicide. Ever since I learned what a veterinarian was and that the role wasn't restricted to the lady we took our pets to once a year or even just pets, I always wanted to be one myself. But since I wasn't good at math I was told I couldn't be one.

I eventually realized I had dyscalculia and could get help for it and that a pre vet major wasn't ALL math like my mother made it out to be. I got sick around 15 due to some meds I was taking that were supposed to help me sleep but actually made me do nothing but sleep, and then again at 20 when taking one for anxiety that made me dizzy all the time to the point I couldn't walk.

People were telling me I was too old to apply for veterinary school. That didn't make since but I asked the American veterinary association and they said there isn't one and that they prefer applicants that are in their 30's and 40's over the typical 20's something. So people can't hold that over me any more. But honestly, if I could never be a vet for whatever reason, I possibly would kill myself. Let me have my dreams people. Let me work to obtain them even if they aren't possible for me. Let me THINK they are possible. Don't try to kill them at 4 like my mother tried to do because it was something she couldn't do.

But become a vet is pretty much my only reason for living. I tried to explain it to my mother and she just went on about how I will go to Hell if I kill myself. I wasn't saying I wanted to kill myself, I was saying that becoming a vet is the only reason I haven't tried yet and that I don't appreciate her not supporting me. Oh, and there is no limit for how many times you can apply for vet school. I heard of a lady with lots of educational disabilities who tried five times before getting accepted. She eventually got in and now works with special needs animals. I wish I could remember her name. It was on a show called "Animal Miracles" hosted by Alan Thicke on a defunct TV channel called "Pax". Anyway if she can do it so can I. I just wish people would accept the fact I will spend my whole life trying to be a vet and wish they would stop telling me to do other things. They don't get it that THIS is what I want to do and pretty much the only reason I choose to live.

With that kind of passion, you would be the best vet ever. Go for it. Don't let anyone stop you. It's definitely your calling. You need to do it.

Thank you. Your comment made me cry...from happiness.

By the way, James Alfred Wight (James Harriot) was my hero when I was a kid. I started reading his books when I was about eleven and they have remained some of my very favorite books of all time. I also wanted to be a vet when I read them but that wasn't my calling. As an animal lover, I am so glad it's yours.

Just looked him up as I've never heard of him before. Seems interesting. I am considering turning my vet character into a literary one. I don't know if it would work since she's an anthropomorphic animal.

Oh my goodness! I can't believe you have never heard of him. Definitely read the books. You will love them.

I don't want to be a veterinary technician (it's one of the things my mom suggested when she said I couldn't be an actual DVM because I was bad at math) and I'm not a dog person. I don't hate dogs, I prefer more exotic animals such as reptiles, ferrets and hedgehogs. Temple Grandin is NOT a veterinarian. She's an animal behaviorist. I had a tutor who knew how to work with autistic people and I ended up actually loving math. Basic grade school math is harder for me than algebra. But literature is the school topic I hate the most.

My Mum loves those books.

Maybe it just never caught on in the US? I will have to look into them.

I was living in Maine when I first read them but they are probably more known in the UK since he was British.

Wait a minute? Are those the "All Creatures Great & Small" books? I think I have heard of them. I just never read them because they weren't assigned schoolbooks and this one homeschool course my mom used with me insisted I read so many books in a school year it was taking up so much of my time I couldn't read anything else...or really do anything else.

Yep! BBC also did a tv series on All Creatures Great and Small. It's very good. You can see it on Youtube but you will want to read the books first before watching it.