Well, I have my shortcomings when socializing. I find it difficult to hold a conversation, I can't just talk on command when i need to. I do have some friends, but I'm never sure if they are tired of me. I never seem to read their intentions beyond their words. I'd just assume everything's fine between us if they've invited me to hang out.
My mind has an obsessive intellectual streak. When I was around six years old my reading material was atlases and gazetteers, and I would memorise stuff like the location of most (if not all) countries of the world, capital cities, general idea w.r.t. population, recognise flags, etc. I've since moved to other interests, though I tend to keep the ones i had stuck somewhere in the back of my head.
There are but two prominent traits I possess, to be honest I have no direction as to how I should answer.
I'm sorry if this is the impression that I've given you, and reading it myself it seems to be an understandable one. My mind seems to have a funny way with memory, as in I forget many appointments, but remember what was said in a lecture way before, and it seems to be that, also given that the course isn't too difficult (its impression in the country is that it is the course people take if they barely qualify for university in the first place), it seems that reading up on notes a few days before seems to be enough for the tests.
In the end, though, I do feel you've taken a wrong impression of me. You're seeing me as a cocky show-off, when what I'm seeing is someone who, as he is typing this, is still unsure of whether or not the 'Post Reply' button is going to be clicked even though typing this post has already taken 15 minutes of his time, someone who's trying to fit in but never good at it.
Well, I'm failing in progressing in my final year dissertation, if that's any consolation. I can't bring myself to go to the university library and ask for help, or to tell the supervising tutors that I'm facing particular shortcomings all of my own. So I might be brought down a notch or two in time, as if I'm not low enough.
I've just looked into the book, using Amazon's search inside feature. Definitely seems like an interesting read, thank you for showing it to me.
I'd heard about Grandin even long before I was diagnosed, and I've found her story inspiring. But learning about Barron, who's taken the path I've chosen to follow, is a very welcome discovery.
Batman55
Sorry for flying off at you there, mate. I guess sometimes I do end up becoming a showoff unintentionally, perhaps because the academic side
of things is what gets people's attention most of the time.
Lucie1
In retrospect, the interests I have developed in related fields can seem to offer strengths which help overcome the weaknesses I possess. Still in an ocean of self-doubt, mind you, but I'm human enough to appreciate[/php] the ego boost.
Thanks for the feedback, all of you.