Understanding by Alexander

Understanding by Alexander - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my life, I've struggled to properly communicate with those around me, especially verbally. Though I have no trouble speaking inherently, I have always found it difficult to accurately convert the contents of my mind into words for others to hear without explaining excessively or too little. In the same vein, I’ve struggled to understand the meaning of others’ words as I tend to default to a literal interpretation, as a result of my being on the autism spectrum.

The most invaluable skill that has helped me overcome this and reduce the impact is the skill of listening. By listening to how others speak, over time I've learned how to do better both in my own speech and in my writing, fostering better understanding between those I interact with and me. This focus on listening has also enabled me to focus more on learning how others think and communicate, furthering my ability to understand others.

I still struggle with this adversity that comes with ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder), but over time it becomes more manageable with the learning that comes with the approach of learning through listening, and by continuing to place myself in interactions with people, I am continuing to learn how to communicate effectively.