Lesley Pro_04

My long history of games completed dates from the current generation of consoles all the way back to the days of the NES, when I was a kid. The reason for that is because video games were introduced to me as a way to improve my hand-eye coordination. I got hooked on video games, and as they say, the rest is history.

Living with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) has been a tremendous challenge since I was diagnosed at age 10. There were-and are-days that were better than others.

My first bit of advice for those with AS-or any other learning challenge-is to have a strong support system. I cannot put a big enough emphasis on this. A support system starts at home, with one's family, and can also include counselors, friends, co-workers, teachers, and classmates, just to name some examples. A strong support system can help to get through the toughest of days, and I should know because I had more than enough tough days during my school years (Kindergarten through 12th Grade).

The second thing I will emphasize is being drug-free. I have never smoked, never drank alcohol, never done any illegal drugs, and I have never abused prescriptions/over-the-counter medications. These are bad vices, the kind of vices that lead to a downward spiral that will NOT end well.

I recommend using healthier vices. My choices in this regard are sports, video games, a good comedy that'll make me laugh, and a musical instrument of my choosing. While it has been at least five years since I last played it, I played the trumpet from grade 5 all the way to grade 12 in the school's band. Regardless, the point is that these vices also helped me through many a difficult day in my lifetime.

Lastly, do not be afraid of the adversity that life brings. Everyday will present new challenges. Some of these challenges will require overcoming adversity. Many challenges that I have faced required me to overcome adversity, but I have never run from an adverse situation, including restraining an ex-college classmate who was attacking a kid with a physical handicap.

Long story short, by facing adversity, you can overcome it. If you don't face the adversity that is in your life, it will remain an obstacle that becomes harder to overcome every day.

I post this with the intention of helping people/familes who deal with whatever learning challenges-including Asperger's Syndrome-that they have to deal with. While it isn't easy to deal with, the most important thing is that you never give up hope. Because without hope, there is no chance of improvement, and no chance of making it.

But this does NOT give anyone an excuse to use my words to do anything stupid or illegal.

The last thing I'll say on the matter is this: the reason I use the term "learning challenges" instead of the term "learning disabilities" is by preference. The latter doesn't instill any sort of confidence, and is more or less "looking down" on someone who has such a diagnosis. "Learning challenges," on the other hand, is meant to be a more confident-sounding term. En lieu of looking down on someone with said diagnosis, the term shows that they can still accomplish great things regardless the obstacles they face.