This fall, I participated as a panelist in INCLUDEnyc’s College is Possible event. At first, I thought my learning disability made me very different from other students and that I couldn’t go to college.
I’m on the spectrum and sometimes, it takes me longer to complete tasks. In high school, I was nervous about life after graduation. My mom recommended that I visit INCLUDEnyc. With their team, I worked on some goals, like becoming more independent traveling throughout NYC and speaking up for myself.
When it was time to consider next steps, the INCLUDEnyc team helped me narrow down my college list and then, we applied. I was accepted to Guttman College! At first, it was challenging to keep up with the pace and balance everything. The INCLUDEnyc educators advised me on how to apply for financial aid and accommodations. I really gained so much confidence!
Now, I’m in my second year and currently taking sociology and media studies. I’m learning a lot about how society has been constructed in a way that is imbalanced for people of color. I’m also learning about the role of media persuasion in our lives. Spending most of this year doing remote learning was hard, but again, the INCLUDEnyc team encouraged me to reach out to my tutors and professors, which helped a lot.
I’ll be finishing up this program next year and I’m closer to my dream of becoming a video game designer. I’ve always wanted to do something creative, but it’s become clear that video game design is my true calling. I recently started a program with Game-U, where I’m learning coding and design.
For anyone who doesn’t believe college is possible right now, my advice is to take a deep breath, ask for help, and it’s going to be okay!
INCLUDEnyc’s Project Possibility program provides intensive support for youth who are transitioning into adult life. This program is made possible with lead funding from The Taft Foundation, Con Edison, and the J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation, among other funders.