Growing Up Autistic
  • Home
  • Product Recommendations
  • Meet Us
    • Trevor
    • Tracey
    • Patty
    • Lonnie
  • Books
  • Blog
  • 1-Minute Videos
  • About Autism
  • Contact

My Life as a Box of Chocolates

12/13/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
By Trevor Pacelli

I have just finished my first semester here at Arizona State University, and while I have faced difficulties, challenges and feelings of loneliness, lots of great things have happened to me. Most of the things I faced were internal, others came on me unexpectedly. For instance, I've found a wonderful church to get plugged into and even went up to Prescott for a weekend with the college ministry. I got published in The State Press newspaper, I spoke at an event about my book and experiences with autism, and I got to spend time with several of my family members. The whole reason I picked this school in the first place is because it was so close to a lot of my family members (including my sister) and I wanted to get better connected with them. So far, it is going very well, if not exactly as I planned.


Forrest Gump has said, "Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're gonna get," and for me that could never be truer. When I started here in August, I had no idea what kind of church I was going to find or what things I was going to get involved in or what I was going to learn from my classes. But take a look at what Forrest Gump went through in the 1994 feature film. Forrest admits not being a smart man, and having braces on his legs as a child. He had a rough time growing up. Having autism, I've had difficulties too, where my communication skills prevented me from forming good friendships, and I too got bullied. But Forrest Gump didn't let his braces or intelligence get in the way of what he could do, he just kept running. Eventually, he became things that he probably never thought he could become: a college football star, a Vietnam war hero, a ping pong champion, and a billionaire who owned a shrimp company. And in addition to that, he helped inspire many stars in the material that made them famous, such as John Lennon. The best part out of all of this? He never intended to do any of it--it all just came naturally to him.

There were times in my life where things came to me that I didn't plan to do, such as when I was working at SAMBICA Bible camp. My sister asked me if I wanted to work for the camp in the first place, and my original plan at the camp was to just volunteer for maintenance for three weeks. But then my supervisor was so impressed by my work that he asked me if I wanted to start working in the kitchen until the end of camp, where I would be paid. Of course, I took the offer, and my supervisor in the kitchen was also very impressed by my work. Then the time came around where I had to look for another job. I was applying all over to different business, none of which hired me. Then my Mom suggested I apply for our church's maintenance crew. I got the job, and a couple of months into it, my supervisor asked me if I wanted to start handling security, where I would be locking up the building after work hours--a big responsibility. I didn't think any of this was going to happen to me in the beginning, but it did. And I will admit, all of those events have really helped me to become familiar with the work force and to present myself as a dependable, manageable worker.

Then there's my past semester here at ASU. I already knew coming here that I was going to spend time with the family, but what I didn't know was that I was actually going to appear on the cover of The State Press newspaper, or that I was going to speak publicly in front of fifty students and faculty, or that I was actually going to see the Lion King musical at only $43.00, or that I decided not to go into directing after all and instead pursue screenwriting. Then there are the courses I've taken. I've learned about how a movie is made, from the producer obtaining the screenplay to the distribution of the finished work, and I've learned about the periods of Hollywood film history. I've had some great professors and some not-so-great professors, but I've still gained an overall better understanding of how the Hollywood industry works and what the business is really like.

So if you or someone you know has autism or Asperger's, and you're worried about the kind of future you're going to be living, just remember Forrest Gump. He was the most unlikely person in the world to become rich and famous while saving lives in the army, and yet he did all that and much more. He inspired people and gave them hope just by being who he was and living by his instinct. So many people today try to appear successful or copy the lifestyle of someone who is, and they attempt to set up their lives so they'll become rich and famous, but due to poor planning, they end up living in a cardboard box on the street eating food out of a trash can. But if people were to just be themselves, accept what life offers them, and understand that they are not in complete control of their lives, then they too can live a life like Forrest Gump. That is what I've been doing. I don't have any idea what I'm going to be doing six months from now or even ten years from now, but I know that if I do what life calls me to do, then it's for my own benefit. So now, I will be applying for any internship I can lay my hands on, and whoever accepts me first I'll take it. It's true that I never know what I'm gonna get, but if it's related to chocolate, it's going to be good.
1 Comment
Lauren Ellis
12/13/2013 09:41:28 pm

Dear Trevor, there is something to be said for genuine and sincere feelings and emotions. Your expression of life's events comes across so natural and heartfelt. It is not uncommon to have to readjust our perceptions of life because we are not and entity unto ourselves. We all have to learn to maneuver our way through the myriad of twists, turns and challenges that life dishes out. Not everyone can say that they are capable of accepting this. The ironic thing is that this is a life long issue for all. Some own it and some fight it, So nicely done Trev for being aware and finding ways to grow. and follow your dreams.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Inspiration for Life with Autism

    This blog has a variety of articles about people living life with autism, and topics and ideas that can help in the journey. Guest bloggers are welcome. Inspired by Trevor, a young adult film critic, photographer and college graduate on the autism spectrum. 

    Check out Trevor's movie review blog, TrevorsViewonHollywood

    Categories

    All
    Accommodations
    Addiction
    Adult Life
    Art
    Autism
    Bullying
    College Life
    Creativity
    Dental Issues
    Depression
    Disability Friendly
    Early Education
    Early Signs Of Autism
    Employment
    High School
    Home Safety
    Jobs & Careers
    Lonnie's Blog Posts
    Misconceptions
    Movie Reviews
    Movies And Disabilities
    Moving Homes
    Obsessions
    One Minute Lessons
    Parenting
    Patty's Blog Posts
    Pokemon
    Research
    Safety
    Siblings And Autism
    Sleep Problems
    Teasing
    Teen Life
    Tracey's Blog Posts
    Trevor's Blog Posts
    Video Gaming

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    December 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Product Recommendations
  • Meet Us
    • Trevor
    • Tracey
    • Patty
    • Lonnie
  • Books
  • Blog
  • 1-Minute Videos
  • About Autism
  • Contact