Graduation

Post Reply New Topic

hello. yesterday was my 8th grade grad party, and i was really scared! My mom got really mad at me and frustrated. I finally decided to go, and when I got there, I wound up crying because it was so big and loud and scary! so we left. then we came back, and left again. then we got my stepdad and I ot to the door and it was WAY too big loud and scary. so I went to get back into the car, and all of a sudden two of my friends were there, so I went in and had fun.
But today was Graduation, and I didn't do that, even though I had a dress and everything. I can't go in front of so many people! I think I really upset my mom! and now I feel really bad and upset! and everything! and I just want everything to go away! I want to go hibernate for the summer!

I've not enjoyed certain occassions because of loud noises, etc. Don't feel bad about your sensitivity problems, it'll only further your sadness. I'm quite the party enjoyer, but dances and school functions can sometimes go overboard in the noise department. High School is louder, so bring ear plugs. I find nothing wrong with hibernating for the Summer, I only leave the house for church, work, and food. But if you have friends, I'm sure they still like you if you didn't go to "Graduation". Middle school graduation is probably boring anyways, mine was awful.

thankyou! I feel alot better now!

I had a lot of problems adapting with noise during school events when I was in school. I left my Middle School Dance because of noise. I went to my Middle School Graduation, it was okay, but boring. Problems with noises is typical with people with AS, so try not to feel bad.

I attended a private, Catholic school during grade school. And once when I was about 11 years old, I was supposed to read something at the mass (which was very standard for kids to read some prayers in the mass) I began crying and throwing a fit in the car when my mom was dropping me off at school that day and I refused to leave the car. I said I didn't want to do it and was basically having a panic attack/tantrum but my mother was adament and wouldn't leave with me in the car. So she waited there until I wore myself out and then made me go inside. I still sorta hate her for that.

That's still more socially outgoing than I was. I never attended a single dance (including prom) the whole time I was in school.


Yeah, she would be upset by that because it is a major milestone. You would have only been up in front of everybody for a couple of minutes. You can make it up in high school, especially if you graduate with honors. You just walk up, get your Diploma, shake a couple of hands, and walk back to your seat. In the event you have to give a speech, take comfort in the fact that you are unlikely to see more than a dozen of those classmates ever again.

I've never had problems with noise levels themselves, but I hate the absolute chaos of the aftermath of a event like graduation. I can stand it, but I generally try to get out asap but my family is very social so I just have to sit it out.

I have backed out of doing things do to fear. I always regret it later. My mum has been upset at me for backing out of things too. She was upset because she knew I was missing out on something and knew I would regret it later. She was sad that I really wanted to do the things that I backed out on because they were too difficult for me.

One event that comes to mind happened when I was about 12. My mum took a group of my friends and me to the mall. One of those simulator rides was there. My friends wanted to go, so my mum offered to buy everyone a ride. I thought it would be to overwhelming. I didn't go. While my friends were on the ride, I sat there waiting for them with tears in my eyes.

ShadesOfMe, don't feel bad. Tell your mother that you are sorry you didn't go through with your graduation. Use this experience as a lesson for next time. Everyone gets afraid, but if we let our fears become stronger than we are, we will miss out on life.

I sat out my college graduation in one of the campus offices.

Of course, I had a convenient excuse - I was nursing my baby (I was married and attended part-time adult classes). My daughter was born a month early, just before the last week of classes. I completed my final research papers at home, and took her along (asleep) to two exams. I cheerfully offered to just skip the whole loud, confusing, crowded graduation mess and just pick up my degree in the office at a later date.

No such luck - my ultra-hyper, uber-feminist English professor insisted that I was going to march right in line with the rest of my class carrying my baby on the front of me, zipped up in my graduation gown. Ah, what a statement! A summa cum laude with a 5-week-old baby! What a powerful image! The whole world must see! She even called the newspaper. My husband thought it was great. I wanted to hide.

So I did. I marched in with the rest of the graduating class, took my seat, took note of my seating position, walked out, and came back in time for the conferral of degrees. Despite spending 90% of graduation NOT there (I even missed Jacques Cousteau's speech!) - I made the front page of the city news.