Fred

Engineering

I have always had an interest in math and science. Something about these fields has always just made sense to me. When I started at Bellevue College (BC) in 2011, I tested into calculus. However, I have always struggled with English classes—particularly writing. My first quarter of college was especially hard because I struggled with not only taking too many classes, but passing English as well.

I found that to solve some of my problems, I needed to reach out to a community of supports. Through consultations with an academic coach, the Autism Spectrum Navigators program at BC, and some friends and classmates, I realized that it would be better for me to take fewer classes, giving me more time to focus on my work.

After that, I started performing better in my English classes, learning to focus on only one or two things at a time. My hard work and patience eventually paid off—I graduated BC with a two-year degree after passing Calculus 4 and English 235.

I was accepted as a transfer student at both the Seattle and Bothell campuses of the University of Washington. Not sure about the best way to analyze those options, I connected with my community of supports once again, who helped me realize that Bothell’s smaller, more intimate campus would better suit my educational needs.

I chose to major in computer science because of my passion for mathematics and programming, and because there are expanding job opportunities in computer science. Eventually, I would like to work for a large tech company, such as Microsoft. Ideally, I would be programming video games. I want to generate ideas with others to create the best products possible.

Though it brings challenges, my disability has also made me who I am, and I am thankful for that. I’ve learned to be determined and to never give up, and that when I get the help I need, I can take on anything. The biggest hurdle I’ve had to overcome is how to sacrifice, whether it be summers to take on classes at school or learning how to drop a class that just doesn’t fit with my workload. Luckily, I have developed a strong community of people who genuinely care about my success.