Prepaing Myself for the Very First Airplane Ride in my Life

 In less than a week, I will be doing two things that I have never done in my life: Go to Disney World (www.disneyworld.com) flying on an airplane. I will be flying to Orlando on SouthwestAirlines, www.southwest.com. I am very excited, especially for the Disney World trip. However, when it comes to the plane ride, half and half.  The first half is that I am excited because it will be my first plane ride I ever had taken in my life. The second half is that I am nervous. I am nervous because I do not do very well with heights and become motion sick (this is why I will not be doing much rides in Disney). I also have my sensory issues, which include having trouble with dealing with new "stimuli". The thought of being up in the air, especially the fear of turbulance has got me well, scared. My stomach just turning thinking about it. But, I am dealing very well with this. Here is how I am coping:
 1. I have talked to both my Aunty Donna and my Auntie Dee that have explained to me that flying is pretty cool. Also, I was told that turbulance just feels like a small "bump" and it is best just to stay seated (which I will do anyway).

 2. Thinking positive about flying because, hey who knows I may enjoy it, which can lead to more future trips. Also, trying a new mode of transportation can lead to bigger travel opportunities. Let's just say the key to my world will now be expandable.

 3. I am also seeing this as an incentive. The reward, GETTING TO GO TO DISNEY WORLD AND HAVE FUN!! One could drive or take a bus or train, but I also have Fibromyalgia, so sitting would cause too much back and leg pain for me.

 See, having Asperger's, I have fears and issues with trying something new. However, if there is a fun incentive at the end, the experience will not be as bad and actually be pretty cool. But the best part can be, that this experience could lead to the opening of many doors and windows of many fun and exciting lifetime opportunities. Hey who knows, maybe my next venture would be traveling the world. So the next time one must try a new experience, no matter how "scary" it may seem, just think about how trying something new could lead to bigger and better things in life.

HAPPY TRAVELS EVERYONE!!
  
This is a picture of one of the airplanes that I will be flying on. Source: www.airimages.com

I Am Now A College Graduate. Now On to the Next Goal.

  On May 18, 2012 I have finally reached my first goal of graduating the Community College of Rhode Island. I have received my Associates of Arts Degree in General Studies. Now, my second goal should be looking for a job. But unfortunately in this economy that is barely impossible. So I added an "in between" goal, instead. That goal, too achieve my Bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island. I already have been accepted into the Health Studies Degrees Program.  However, due needing time off to recoup I had to withdraw the Fall of 2012 semester. But for me to achieve this goal, I may have to take my Anatomy and Physiology course at my old school, the Community College of Rhode Island. Though I already had taken Anatomy, however, the Health Studies program wants to me to the combination form. But in order to succeed in such a course, the Anatomy/physiology course will be the only course that I will take. You ask, why CCRI when you already got accepted into URI? Well, one I would save a ton of money on both books and educational costs. CCRI it would only cost me only about $700 total (fees, books, tuition), where as URI over $2000 (plus the $300 enrollment fee, paid out-of-pocket). My Timing to start achieving this goal, Spring of 2013. Now that I completed one goal, I am off and ready to complete the next one. Well, after I have a relaxing summer off, of course.
 

Happy 33 Birthday And a Brand New Year To Me

33 years ago today I was born. A ton has happened in the past 33 years of my life,both negative and positive. I had a rough beginning, then a great calm childhood and adolescence. But I had an extremely rough early adulthood, both emotionally, mentally, and physically. I ended up misunderstood and over (how should I say this) over-serviced in the wrong type of developmentally disabled programs, meant for mentally retarded individuals. I also developed type 2 diabetes, growth hormone deficiency, and other serious health problems all resulting from psychiatric medications for a depression and anxiety, which was caused by the wrong type of services and misunderstanding.
 But it was the physical challenge of a total colectomy (where I had my colon taken out) at the age of 29, that changed my life for the positive. You ask, "why something so dreadful, be so positive?" well besides a life-long complication of occasional bowel and bladder incontinence issues and other stuff, here is why: I had taken advantage of my "illness" by not be able to return to the day program. Instead, I used this recovery time to reexamine my life. With the help of a few close staff members and a staff/friend, I knew I could make it in the world. That staff/friend, who was completing a Phlebotomy Certificate had saw how intelligent I was and had told me " why do you not go back to school?" When she asked this, I remember how when I first went to college I wanted to be in the medical field, and after many years of going to Brown University bookstore and looking at all the medical thing, I realized that I could do it. But I needed a plan. This plan ended up being the best thing I could ever do for myself.
  By the time I was 30, I was "busting out" out of that chain and getting my life back to where I wanted it and that it should have been in the first place (if they would have given me the right supports). I started to learn to take the city bus, so I could feel independent and save money by getting a free disability pass, then rely on para-transit that was way out of my budget. What was a supposed to be a way to get around and save money and be independent, turned into the way that I had the best adventures and fun that I ever had. I had to train my self to take a bus, so I wanted the "training" to be fun. So I went to the beach, Roger Wheeler State Beach in Narraganestt, RI. This adventure and training had turned into a love of travel and fun. I went everyday, and 2 weeks later, had went to Block island, by myself for the first time in my life. I feel in love with Narragansett. After a while, I started to venture out and explore my Narragansett a bit further. Then, I found my permanent beach, Narragansett Town Beach.
 lLet's fats forward a bit to where I went back to Community College of Rhode Island.  I started school in 2009, and am even a Dean's List Student since then. In 2010, I moved out in my own apartment, now fully 100% independent. I get some help from another agency (which I am currently not happy with), which provides me transportation when I get stuck.
 But with success comes with "Bumps in the Road, Huge Bumps". I started the Histology Program, but had a manual dexterity issue, which was diagnosed as Dyspraxia, which prevented me from doing the clinical parts. Also, even though I should have mentioned this earlier, but since a year after my surgery, I developed severe G.I. issues, which was a bit of colitis, except the colitis is only found in the very small area of my rectum, where there is an inch or 2 of my colon (which 99% of it was taken out, but a tiny bit was left). I had taken meds, but it did not work. But the bigest challenge of all was the muscle and bone pain, severe fatigue, feeling sick all the time. It turned out to be Fibromyalgia. But even though as sick as I was and still am, I push on.
 But out of all that negativity actually came a huge positivity, one that allows me to be able to have a more successful opportunity in my education, in which I never thought of even 3 months ago. I love the health care field, so I decided that I will transfer to the University of Rhode Island, after I get my General Studies degree in May 2012. All of this happened when I was 32. WEll guess what? I AM NO LONGER 32, BUT 33!!
 What does this mean? It means A great successful year ahed of me. I will graduate in May, and go to DISNEY WORLD as my "reward" for all that I accomplished. Then URI in September. Of course I will also have other little but positive things in between.
 As I say, I may be older, but that just means that I am going to do better things in life and add on more experiences in my life. What will these experiences will be? Well, just like you, I too shall see.

I am missing those who have help make my horrific adulthood into a positive one

 Though I have many friends and many role models, but lately I feel like I am rejected. I am someone who can never handle rejection and am easily attached to people. I am not in any relationships because even though I would want one, but the fear of it ending, I could not emotional handle the break-up or rejection. This is where I differ from an Autistic spectrum person. I know how to have relationships, want them, but due to past rejections am afraid. I also have way too much empathy and sympathy, to a point where I feel bad for other to where I may want their suffering. I also am way too social and a leader. I have to take over everything because I feel that I have to be responsible for everyone. Even as a little girl, I would take the leadership role and was not afraid to speak up.
 I sit here missing the best friends that I have made in my adulthood. Due to the situation I was in, I only was friends with staff members of my old program. Though many have face book, but some won't friend me. I felt very close to these people (the heads of that program different story). The reason was I was very isolated, unable to "get out" and meet people. I could have taken a walk and met people outside, but feared for my safety. I had the social skills, and am very social, but safety was my concern. But, I needed to be friends with "neurotypical" adults who understood how I felt and were able to care for me, like I would care for them. These staff members where the only friendships I could make. I hated that the "heads" of the agency did not allow this. That is what caused my depression and less of self-worth. I miss these people and would like to hang out social with them.

How bad things have been despite the fact I am still thinking positive

In so much pain and my stomach is killing me. Though I am hungry, but I can't eat, as I feel sick as soon as I put food in my mouth. I was unable to digest liquid medications for colitis and fibromyalgia many months ago. Though I have no stress, but any stress makes it worse, to where I can't move. I come home to my bed because it is that bad, to where after doing my regular activity, I am screwed. I have not been in school for 2 weeks, enjoying my mini-vacation mostly in bed.
I am going to Physical Therapy but since I can't do any of the exercises, I get massages instead. at least they work for a good day or 2. 
 Even worse is that I have hardly no immunity due to the Prednisone I was on months ago, so now I am constantly sick with a cold and have a sore throat that never went away. The Prednisone did help me put weight on when I first had taken it, but the stomach issues stayed. 3 months ago  it no longer worked. Now, I have lost some weight, but only 10 lbs. because of my inactivity as I can never move.
 When I do get that burst of energy, my body pays for it 3 hours later and for a week or more at a time.
 I am so desperate to not lets the pain affect my future plans, that I am willing to give injectable medications a try. The good news is that they will not affect my stomach as much.
 But as I say, I still truck on, but in order to do that, I am now taking care of business. I need to do what I need to do, since no alternative therapies or diets work. And no I would never get desperate to where I would smoke Ms. Mary Jane. That stuff makes me vomit when I smell it on the buses. No offense to one who do, I just don't prefer it.

How a Health Issue affected my schooling into a Positive Path

  Through this journey of become successful, unfortunately, this year, I have had some major set backs.I was going to the Community College of Rhode Island, www.ccri.edu originally to become a Histology Technician. But, through my clinical, I have struggled with using a microtome (which is used to cut tissues samples) and also grabbing the tissues after it is cut and placing it in the water bath. I also struggled with tons of physical pain from both my muscles and bones. I went to a neurologist during my summer break, who diagnosed the manual dexterity problem as  Dyspraxia, which caused my manual dexterity issues. This was the sad reality  because I was unable to become a Histology technician because being it requires too much fine manual dexterity. My pain was diagnosed as Fibromyalgia and was put on Neurotin. Unfortunately, I was unable to digest the meds and still trying to find a solution. I tried months of physical therapy, especially for the Dyspraxia. Unfortunately it did not work and I had to leave the Histology Technician program. However, though it was a huge disappointment, but here is how it turned out to be a blessing.
 It turned out I had enough credits to get my General Associates degree, due to the fact I had to take a bunch of general education requirements and also with the classes that I had taken back when I originally went to school in 1997 and 1998. I only have 3 more classes I have to take just to get the Associate's in General Studies. Now, I still love the Medical field, so I am transferring to the University of Rhode Island www.uri.edu in the fall of 2012 in their Health Studies program. And the good news is all of the sciences I had to take, plus the general education requirements, I have met my general and additional credits to get into the Health Studies program.
 See it goes to show you, that one can take a negative situation and make it positive. Now, going from only wanting an Associate's to actually having a Bachelor's due to a health issue, now that is the Positive.

Appreciating people who work with the disabled - OPINION - The Unfiltered Lens

 This is my article in the student newspaper, The Unfiltered Lens, in which I write articles that I feel that may interest other students and others. This article was written because, as someone who used to receive supports from day programs for the disabled, I saw wonderful staff members work very hard, yet did not get paid enough for it. There has been massive budget cuts in my home state of Rhode Island, which unfortunately have affected the disabled. These budget cuts have had significantly lowered services to assist people with disabilities to live as normal lives as possible. But not only are the disabled affected, but their staff, who dedicate their lives to help them live better lives are affected. Most staff who work for agencies that serve the disabled already work for very minimal or no benefits, and very little pay, as low as $8 an hour in some places.
 I have written this article in response to the cuts and how it affects the disabled and their workers. If you cut the workers pay and hours, the disabled clients lose staff to help them be able to hold jobs, live in the community, and be able to enjoy the life that everyone else lives..
Appreciating people who work with the disabled - OPINION - The Unfiltered Lens