Finding Your Voice as a Person with Asperger's: Using Your Passions To Boost Your Confidence and Self-Esteem

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."

- Henry David Thoreau

It's so easy to become distracted with everything that's going on in the world at large: the economy, politics, new trends in fashion and technology, and, of course, the Internet. There's so much "noise" out there – both visually and auditory – telling you what you should do, buy and think. As an adult with Asperger's, this is a challenge I face every single day; however, I've discovered that if I take a few deep breaths and reflect on what I really enjoy doing, I'm able to focus my attention on my passions and strengths.

For me, my passions have always been reading and writing. I'm currently exploring different career paths, and blogging seems like a logical next step for me: being able to express my thoughts and ideas with the goal of helping other people with Asperger's find their way in the world, and helping myself in the process as well. In this entry, I'll share some anecdotes from my life, and how reading and writing has helped me discover my voice.

As long as I can I remember, I've always loved to read – my mom told me that I started reading at the age of 3. I remember my house being full of all kinds of books – in my home, throwing away books was akin to throwing away money. Reading unlocked my imagination, and took me to worlds that I couldn't find anywhere else. When I was older, I also discovered the joy of writing my thoughts down in a journal, which was very helpful for an undiagnosed "Aspie."

English classes in high school were great for me, as I got the chance to explore great books, and write about them. It was a natural choice for me to major in English once I got to college. My interest in writing helped me find others who felt the same way I did about words. I also had the opportunity to tutor fellow students at the college writing center, which was a wonderful experience: seeing how other people's writing processes were evolving was interesting, and inspired me to continue writing and helping others with their papers. However, after earning my Bachelor of Art in English, I tried to find work in my field, as English majors have varied career paths from which to choose: writer, publisher, lawyer, teacher or college professor. At the time, I was at a crossroads regarding my employment, and I still am (I'm currently searching for full-time employment in the administrative field), however, being given the chance to share my experiences with other Aspies has given me a needed boost in confidence and self-esteem.

The main point from my anecdotes is to emphasize that it's very important to listen to your instincts, do what you love (whatever that may be) and realize that what you're doing adds value to your life, as well as the lives of others. This in turn will develop two important pieces of you: confidence and self-esteem. There are two great books I can recommend for "Aspies" that deal directly with these issues: "Aspergirls," by Rudy Simone and "Pretending to Be Normal," by Liane Holliday Willey. Both books are wonderful introductions into the female "Aspie" mindset, as well as guidance for those who are looking to find their voices, but don't know where to start.

If you love what you do, and are good at it, listen to your inner voice and do what you've always wanted. So far, it's worked very well for me.