In College, On the Spectrum (2)
“College is a stupid idea” opines today’s Jezebel; over at The Atlantic, Professor X, a self-described part-time (evenings) adjunct instructor of English at “colleges of last resort,” says:
For many of my students, college was not a goal they spent years preparing for, but a place they landed in. Those I teach don’t come up in the debates about adolescent overachievers and cutthroat college admissions. Mine are the students whose applications show indifferent grades and have blank spaces where the extracurricular activities would go.
Full disclosure: I’m a college professor at a small, very urban college that isn’t ranked too highly in the likes of U.S. News & World Report. As far as what I remember about college and my professors: I was actually talking to one of my professors from college (at the school where I went to college) Thursday morning. So—in view of the back-and-forths here about conflicts of interest and biases—-just wanted to come clean on that.
Anyways, the real point of this post is to note one college student, Emily Beshlian, who attends Creighton University in Nebraska and is majoring in biology. The story is entitled Autistic Girl Overcomes Serious Struggles, Attends College:
Beshlian is in college to learn, but there’s also the sense that she’s teaching in her own way.
“No matter who they are, where they are, the color of their skin, hair, whatever, everybody is unique,” she said.
She hopes to work as a biologist someday.
“She doesn’t belong in an institution. She doesn’t belong in a group home. I hope to educate her in a field she thrives in,” [her mother, Cathy] Bruno said.
Bruno said she didn’t know her daughter’s potential, but she’s helping the girl discover her unlimited abilities through persistence and patience.
Kudos! ——Beshlian’s story reminds me of what it’s all about.
Tags: adults, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, biology, College, creighton, disabilities blog, Family, family blog, Parenting, pdd-nos, university
6 opinions for In College, On the Spectrum (2)
Daisy
May 22, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I hope Amigo goes to college some day. I don’t expect him to be ready at age 16; I only hope he develops the independence and self-sufficiency to go some time.
niksmom
May 22, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Wow, I read the piece by Professor X and couldn’t DIS-agree more! I think any instructor with a consistent failure rate THAT high needs to do some serious evaluating of their teaching skills and find new ways to engage their students. I found the whole tone of Prof X’s diatribe to be condescending in the extreme; who is s/he to declare taht these students are “unfit” for college? Seems to me that any good instructor —whether at an Ivy League school or a “college of last resort” finds the ways to nurture the spirit of learning in greater numbers than Prof. X seems capable of. Perhaps “X” should reexamine his/her choice of profession…or stop looking at this one as “a second job.” Less ego, more passion.
Sorry, off my soapbox now!
And I sure hope that Emily Beshlian finds instructors who will honor her commitment to her education and not dismiss her as “unfit” simply b/c of any learning differences or different abilities she has!
Moi
May 22, 2008 at 10:23 pm
When people talk like they are proud that they dropped out of college, I look at it like this: They are proud that they are stupid. Consider the source. What does Moe do for a day job, anyway? Funny how he doesn’t say, huh?
I remember quite a few of my professors. I’m also married to one (albeit 20 years later, lol).
Bug is going to college. How else will he have a chance at survival without it? NTs don’t get a decent job without a degree - how can an Aspie survive? They can’t qualify for group homes, they have to be able to support themselves………
Laura
May 23, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Moi - Moe’s a freelance writer - a real one, formerly a staff writer with WSJ.
Since my son is only 2 as I type, I think I’ll reserve judgement on his college prospects. I’m thrilled that others are blazing a trail for him to follow though, should that be something he wants.
Melody
May 25, 2008 at 3:05 am
I’m going to college in the fall! It will take a lot of work to learn things like laundry and general management of my life, but I have been devising plans. (Hint: charts!)
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 8, 2008 at 11:45 pm
More about a mentoring program for autistic students in USA Today.
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