Scool was easy but work: an ordeal and barrier to knowledge.

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I was reading the introversion-autism link and I found this quote describes me exactly.

"Popular conceptualizations of introversion include a sense of being overwhelmed, a sense of being different, alienated, a preference for solitary activities, disrupted circadian rhythms, differences in perception and imagination, a sense of superiority and esoteric knowledge, and the feeling that interaction is “draining”, “work,” an “ordeal” and “barrier” to knowledge."

The last part is especially relevant. Why is it that I feel I can do well in school and yet be so totally lost in the work world? Here are my guesses for myself.

1. Rote memorization and not true understanding
2. Performance and Social Anxiety especially because of less ability to fake knowledge and deal with social stuff
3. Poor ability to use knowledge beyond the specific environment it was learned in (calm school environment)
4. Slow thinker/processing and unable to multi-task (easily over-whelmed). Work requires making quicker decisions
5. School requires more recognition tasks, work requires more recall tasks
6. Executive function problems
7. Can't do well when being watched/judged (feel more pressure)
8. Have a lot of trouble learning information at work (I tend to learn better on my own in a calm environment without someone over my head watching me)

Is this common with a lot of people on here?

I always had trouble in school. I never understood how filling in blanks is supposed to help me learn. When I did pass a test, I never remembered it. I had trouble reading becuase the text jiggled and was almost impossible to make out. I also never could remember what I read. I remember one day coming home from first grade and being able to read just like that. I always learned the best when it was something I was intrested in or when I didn't have to write anything down. Most of what I was taught had no relavance to what I wanted to do in life and I usualy just forgot it. I had trouble sitting still and paying attention. Gym was my best class but probably because I was the teacher's pet in that class. Not common for a kid with AS to be the favorite of the gym teacher but than that lady is probably going to be beautified as saint someday.

I always got the best grades when I was with a good teacher or at least had a good friend.

WELL, I did FINE in the earlier grades, and got bored. I HATED having to "learn" what I already knew. HECK, they didn't give me algebra when I wanted it, and I STILL think I would have done well. They gave me SPANISH instead of GERMAN. I didn't do well in Spanish. I didn't bother to take German until college. My grades?

German I I SKIPPED since I figured I knew it.
German II A
German III A
German IV A

So I guess I would have done well in German ALSO! BTW for those that don't know, A means EXCELLENT or well above average.

Regarding your list

1. Rote memorization and not true understanding

Well, I tend to understand things well.

2. Performance and Social Anxiety especially because of less ability to fake knowledge and deal with social stuff

Oh, you can fake knowledge, but what would be the point? But YEP, I have anxiety. 8-( It isn't about less ability though.

3. Poor ability to use knowledge beyond the specific environment it was learned in (calm school environment)

That seems silly, do you REALLY have that problem?

4. Slow thinker/processing and unable to multi-task (easily over-whelmed). Work requires making quicker decisions

I AM easily overwhelmed, but can generally do as well as anyone else.

5. School requires more recognition tasks, work requires more recall tasks

I guess this is right with today's multiple choice tests, etc...

6. Executive function problems

I have some problems here, but have seen FAR too many others(NON AUTISTIC, etc...) that have worse problems to think I am poor here.

7. Can't do well when being watched/judged (feel more pressure)

I have this problem BIG TIME!

8. Have a lot of trouble learning information at work (I tend to learn better on my own in a calm environment without someone over my head watching me)

Well, being a computer consultant USED to be a lot easier. There were only a few standard file formats, a few computer syntaxes, etc... MOST people today get pigeon holed into some small specialty. Even THEN, since I CONSULT, and ANOTHER get me work, I end up having to learn some ODD things. Sometimes tha job changes while I am on it. So I kind of HAVE to learn things at work.

School was awful, work was awful. Still, hopeful that I can find something doable.

I found school easy and work difficult too. I think the reason is that school is set up to help you and work with you (even if it doesn't always feel that way). As long as you have a learning style that is compatible with how you are taught, you can sail through, because the assignments are set up to be doable and to help you succeed. (I have this perspective in part because I used to be a teacher.)

Work, on the other hand, is usually set up as an adversarial relationship in which you have to prove yourself. Even if it would seem logical that your bosses would want to help you so you can do a good job for them, it's rarely the case. Most of the time you are set up to fail and have to struggle just to figure out what you are supposed to do.